gossip en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈɡɒsɪp/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
- /ˈɡɒsɪp/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈɡɑsɪp/ (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
- /ˈɡɔsɪp/ (Australia)
- /ˈɡɑsəp/ (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
- [ˈɡɔ̟səp] (New-Zealand)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English godsybbe, godsib (“a close friend or relation, a confidant; a godparent”), from Old English godsibb (“godparent, sponsor”), equivalent to god + sib. Doublet of godsib. For sense evolution to "gossip, discussing others' personal affairs," compare French commérage.
Meanings
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(countable) Someone who likes to talk about other people's private or personal business.
A losing Gamester, who is obliged to drive into the City to dispose of a little South Sea Stock, gives the Hint there. The Gossips at Garraway’s have it in a Moment: At One it is buzz’d on Change, and the circulating Whisper in the Boxes interrupts the Play at Night.
1752, Arthur Murphy, The Gray’s Inn Journal, volume 1, number 11, page 73:Alf could tell you about everybody on both sides of Main Street. He was a vicious male gossip, insatiably curious and vindictive without malice.
1952, John Steinbeck, chapter 48, in East of Eden, London: Heinemann, page 456:Be careful what you say to him: he’s a bit of a gossip.
He was an arrant old gossip, too; for ever coming off in his canoe to the ships in the bay, and regaling their crews with choice little morsels of court scandal […]
1846, Herman Melville, “Sequel Containing the Story of Toby”, in Typee:
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(uncountable) Idle talk about someone’s private or personal matters, especially about someone not present.
The smaller a town the more richly it hums with gossip. There are no private affairs here. Gossip is the air we breathe.
1980, J. M. Coetzee, chapter 2, in Waiting for the Barbarians, Penguin, published 1982, page 32:I have a juicy piece of gossip to share with you.
Intense nosiness about everybody had always existed in the area. Gossip washed in, washed out, came, went, moved on to the next target.
2018, Anna Burns, chapter 1, in Milkman, London: Faber & Faber:This was just what he had been afraid of. These blithering women who thought they could do a man's work. Why the hell couldn't they stay at home and mind their pots and pans and stick to their frocks and gossip and leave men's work to the men.
1953, Ian Fleming, “Black Hare and Grey Hound”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 105:[…] the thing is certainly true. It is not a mere bit of gossip. We have it from Frederick himself.
1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter XVIII, in Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=III or IV), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:I ought to arise and go forth with timbrels and with dances; but, do you know, I am not inclined to revels? There has been a little—just a very little bit too much festivity so far …. Not that I don’t adore dinners and gossip and dances; not that I do not love to pervade bright and glittering places.[…]
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter II, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:According to the latest gossip, their relationship is on the rocks.
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(uncountable) Idle conversation in general.
The parlor was always bright and attractive, the chessboard ready, the piano in tune, plenty of gay gossip, and a nice little supper set forth in tempting style.
1868–1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter 38, in Little Women: […], (please specify |part=1 or 2), Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC:
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(uncountable) A genre in contemporary media, usually focused on the personal affairs of celebrities.
a gossip columnist
Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence. She devoured with more avidity than she had her food those pretentiously phrased chronicles of the snobocracy—[…]—distilling therefrom an acid envy that robbed her napoleon of all its flavor.
1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), page 373, column 2:a gossip blog
- (countable, uncountable) Communication done using a gossip protocol.
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(countable, historical, uncountable) A sponsor; a godfather or godmother; the godparent of one's child or godchild, or the parent of one's godchild.
A young woman of our town, who declared she had received the reward of sixpence for a like service, told the circumstance to her gossips; but no sixpence ever came again, and it was generally believed that the Pixies had taken offence by her chattering, as they do not like to have their deeds, good or evil, talked over by mortal tongues.
1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 299:When a man stood sponsor for a child at baptism, he became the child's godfather, and gossip to the parents.
1908, Patrick Weston Joyce, A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland: Treating of the Government, Military System, and Law; Religion, Learning, and Art; Trades, Industries, and Commerce; Manners, Customs, and Domestic Life, of the Ancient Irish People, page 287:Should a great Lady, that was invited to be a Gossip, in her place send her Kitchen-Maid, ’twould be ill taken;
1689, John Selden, Table-Talk, London: Jacob Tonson et al., 1696, “Prayer”, page 134:Gossips accepted responsibility for the child's spiritual and physical well-being, […]
2010, Susan E. Phillips, Transforming Talk: The Problem with Gossip in Late Medieval England, Penn State Press, →ISBN, page 154:It seems, Miss, that if he stood not himself, or procur’d not Gossips for the Christening of the Children of his poorer Tenants, he always sent them a large rich Cake […]
1742, [Samuel Richardson], Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], volume III, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; and sold by C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 400:’tis not a maid, for she hath had gossips [i.e. she could not be a virgin, because she has children with godparents]
c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
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(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A familiar acquaintance.
My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal: I thank ye heartily;
1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:
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(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Title used with the name of one's child's godparent or of a friend.
He was old and infirm, he wrote, and Gossip Death was waiting for him on the moor; but before he went to join him he would like to see Susan’s boy again.
1905, William John Locke, chapter 11, in The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne:What, ho, gossip Ford! what, ho!
c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gossips | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
gossip mill · gossipred · gossipee · gossip-prone · gossiplike · gossipy · gossipful · gossip mirror · gossiply · gossipish · gossipless · gossiper · gossipfest · cybergossip · gossiphood
Descendants
Synonyms
mardle · moot · chit-chat · blab · word on the street · tabby · blabtongue · natter · bavardage · word on the wire · natter · rumor · blather · hearsay · blab · blabbing · clepe · babble · busybody · tittle-tattle · tattle · sleazemonger · telltale · newsmonger · bibble-babble · sponsor · carrytale · blabtale · scandal · telltale tit · palaver · godsib · word · whisperer · chit-chat · titivil · bruit · talebearer · busybody · rumourmonger · scuttlebutt · mouth · buzzer · yackety-yak · sough · waffle · chatter · rumormonger · claver · prate · noise · mumblenews · whisper · twaddle · blathering · rumor · hot air · dirt · tattletale · talecarrier · buzz · scuttlebutt · fame · small talk · rumormonger · chat · chinwag · gabble · whispering · gossipmonger · yap · friend · yatter · tale · chinwag · gossiper · blabbermouth · muttering · blabber · tidbit · meddler · meddler · scandalmonger · gossipmonger · gossip · hearsay · prattle · town crier · on dit
Translations (180)
ko 험담 (idle talk) · es cuecho (idle talk) · mk озбору́вање (idle talk) · es chismorreo (idle talk) · ko 입방아 (idle talk) · et kuulujutt (idle talk) · tg ғайбат (idle talk) · gd sguan (Strathglass) (idle talk) · sk reči (idle talk) · te గాలి కబుర్లు (idle talk) · fr cancan (idle talk) · uz gʻiybat (idle talk) · hu pletyka (idle talk) · es habladurías (idle talk) · es chirmol (idle talk) · es salseo (idle talk) · es chimento (idle talk) · gl conto (idle talk) · mn хов (idle talk) · pl plotka (idle talk) · gd feothal (idle talk) · sq thashetheme (idle talk) · gd gabhann (Perthshire) (idle talk) · sq çuçurimë (idle talk) · pdt Pludra (idle talk) · nv aseezį́ (idle talk) · hy բամբասանք (idle talk) · bo འཆལ་གཏམ (idle talk) · mk трач (idle talk) · hak 閒話 /闲话 (idle talk) · ar إِشَاعَة (idle talk) · cs drb (idle talk) · da sladder (idle talk) · lb Klaatsch (idle talk) · nl roddel (idle talk) · ru болтовня́ (idle talk) · ary هدور (idle talk) · af skinder (idle talk) · ru слу́хи (idle talk) · sl opravljanje (idle talk) · pt cusquice (idle talk) · nb sladder (idle talk) · ur گپ شپ (idle talk) · gd geop (idle talk) · kk ғайбат (idle talk) · es chisme (idle talk) · es cahuín (idle talk) · my ဈေးစကား (idle talk) · uk сплі́тка (idle talk) · pt mexerico (idle talk) · id gosip (idle talk) · ce эладит (idle talk) · es hablillas (idle talk) · it chiacchiera (idle talk) · th ข่าวลือ (idle talk) · cmn 寒暄 (idle talk) · fi juoru (idle talk) · ug غەيۋەت (idle talk) · bo ལབ་ལོབ (idle talk) · fr qu'en-dira-t-on (idle talk) · ga scéalaíocht (idle talk) · gl rexouba (idle talk) · gl leria (idle talk) · et klatš (idle talk) · scn cuttigghiu (idle talk) · fr commérage (idle talk) · th ขี้ปาก (idle talk) · es argüende (idle talk) · kk өсек (idle talk) · dz ངག་ཀྱལ (idle talk) · ky ушак (idle talk) · fo slatur (idle talk) · chr ᎦᏬᏂᏓ (idle talk) · eo not always negative) (idle talk) · lv tenka (idle talk) · fr ragot (idle talk) · bg клю́ка (idle talk) · ny mabodza (idle talk) · th การนินทา (idle talk) · tr gıybet (idle talk) · mn хов жив (idle talk) · cs drby (idle talk) · lo ເປສຸໄນ (idle talk) · es copucha (idle talk) · mi pakitara (idle talk) · gd suainsean (Strathglass) (idle talk) · gd glagaireachd (Killin) (idle talk) · pt bisbilhotice (idle talk) · my အတင်း (idle talk) · th คำนินทา (idle talk) · es bochinche (idle talk) · es cocoa (idle talk) · cmn 山海經 /山海经 (idle talk) · bg сплетня́ (idle talk) · ca xafarderia (idle talk) · it ciarla (idle talk) · ru спле́тни (idle talk) · uk плі́тка (idle talk) · gd clabhs (idle talk) · yo òfófó (idle talk) · sw tetesi (idle talk) · hi अफ़वाह (idle talk) · sw udaku (idle talk) · sv sladder (idle talk) · nan-hbl 閒仔話 /闲仔话 (idle talk) · de Tratsch (idle talk) · gd geotal (idle talk) · he רְכִילוּת (idle talk) · it pettegolezzo (idle talk) · yue 閒話 /闲话 (idle talk) · ar نَمِيمَة (idle talk) · gd goileam (idle talk) · nl kletspraatje (idle talk) · tr dedikodu (idle talk) · hi गप-शप (idle talk) · mi tūtara (idle talk) · it diceria (idle talk) · sh тра̏ч (idle talk) · cy straeon (idle talk) · lt paskala (idle talk) · mi tarawau (idle talk) · yi שלח־מנות (idle talk) · yo ọ̀rọ̀ ẹ̀yìn (idle talk) · az dalınca danışma (idle talk) · tl sitsit (idle talk) · fa سخنچینی (idle talk) · sh ogovaranje (idle talk) · eo klaĉo (idle talk) · ar غِيبَة (idle talk) · tl tsika (idle talk) · th การซุบซิบ (idle talk) · uk погові́р (idle talk) · lo ປາກຕລາດ (idle talk) · yi שמועה (idle talk) · af fietna (Kaaps-Maleis) (idle talk) · txb käskor (idle talk) · gd giusgal (idle talk) · ru спле́тня (idle talk) · es mitote (idle talk) · la rūmusculī (idle talk) · ba ғәйбәт (idle talk) · sl obrekovanje (idle talk) · es marujeo (idle talk) · cs klepy (idle talk) · km ចចាមអារ៉ាម (idle talk) · sh trȁč (idle talk) · gd preig (idle talk) · be плётка (idle talk) · sk klebety (idle talk) · sv skvaller (idle talk) · ka ჭორი (idle talk) · gd nuadal (idle talk) · tl tsismis (idle talk) · pt fofoca (idle talk) · es cotilleo (idle talk) · es chambre (idle talk) · bo ཁ་བཤད (idle talk) · de Klatsch (idle talk) · ms gosip (idle talk) · ro bârfă (idle talk) · mi pōtinitini (idle talk) · ary نم (idle talk) · es brete (idle talk) · my သူပြောငါပြော (idle talk) · cmn 閒話 /闲话 (idle talk) · nl geroddel (idle talk) · sh оговарање (idle talk) · cy clecs (idle talk) · ja 世間話 (idle talk) · is slúður (idle talk) · fa غیبت (idle talk) · es vinazo (idle talk) · az qeybət (idle talk) · gd sgudal (Scalpay) (idle talk) · gd togalaichean (idle talk) · nl achterklap (idle talk) · ja 噂 (idle talk) · tt гайбәт (idle talk) · lo ປາກບອນ (idle talk) · el κουτσομπολιό (idle talk)