Dictionary

gibber en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈd͡ʒɪbə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Uncertain; usually regarded as a back-formation from gibberish (see gibberish for more).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Gibberish, unintelligible speech.

Forms

gibber en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈd͡ʒɪbə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Uncertain; usually regarded as a back-formation from gibberish (see gibberish for more).

Meanings

1. To jabber, talk rapidly and unintelligibly or incoherently.
   • A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, / The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead / Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets – […] c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

Forms

Deriveds

gibberer · gibberish · agibber · gibbersome

Translations (6)

la blaterō (to speak unintelligibly) · mi kunanu (to speak unintelligibly) · ka ლუღლუღი (to speak unintelligibly) · ka ყბედობა (to speak unintelligibly) · bg ломотя (to speak unintelligibly) · grc φλυαρέω (to speak unintelligibly)

gibber en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈɡɪbə/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Dharug giba.

Meanings

1. (Australia) A stone or rock, of chalcedony or similar mineral, found strewn over arid regions of inland Australia; a gibber stone.
2. (Australia, colloquial) Any small rock or stone, especially one used for throwing.
   • “Well, all I can say is that if yer don't take yer dial outer the road I'll bloomin' well take an' bounce a gibber off yer crust.” 1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, page 90:
3. (Australia, obsolete) A large boulder or rocky outcrop; also, an overhanging rock formation.

Forms

Deriveds

gibber plain · gibberbird · gibber stone

Relateds

reg · desert pavement

gibber en · NOUN · etymology 3

Etymology

Etymology tree English gib Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English gibber From gib + -er.

Meanings

1. A balky horse.
   • 1831-1850, William Youatt, On the Structure and the Diseases of the Horse A hasty and passionate breaker will often make a really goodtempered young horse an inveterate gibber

Forms