prattle (v.)

"talk artlessly and childishly," 1530年代，是 prate（参见）的频繁动词形式（或减小形式）； 也参见 -el（2）和（3）。相关词汇： Prattled； prattling。名词“无关紧要或幼稚的谈话”可追溯至1550年代。

Prattle is generally harmless, if not pleasant, as the prattle of a child, or of a simple-minded person ; prating now generally suggests the idea of boasting or talking above one's knowledge ; chat is easy conversation upon light and agreeable subjects ... ; chatter is incessant or abundant talk, seeming rather foolish and sounding pretty much alike ; babble or babbling is talk that is foolish to inaneness, as that of the drunkard (Prov. xxiii. 29) .... [Century Dictionary, 1895]

Prattle 通常是无害的，如果不是愉快的，就像孩子或头脑简单的人的 prattle 一样； prating 现在通常暗示吹嘘或谈论超出自己的知识范围； chat 是轻松愉快的话题上的简单对话...； chatter 是不断或丰富的谈话，看起来相当愚蠢，听起来差不多； babble 或 babbling 是愚蠢到无聊的谈话，就像醉汉的谈话（箴言23:29）.... [世纪词典，1895]