chunterv.
/ˈtʃʌntə/, U.S. /ˈtʃən(t)ər/ To mutter, murmur; to grumble, find fault, complain. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > speak in a particular manner [verb (intransitive)] > mutter or mumble
mamblea1275
mumblec1350
blabber1362
babblea1400
muttera1425
pattera1425
rumble1440
barbettec1480
murmell1546
palter?1548
buzz1555
fumble1563
drumble1579
to sup up1579
radote?1590
chunter1599
putter1611
mussitate1623
muss1661
muffle1669
slobber1692
thruma1774
fumfer1954
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > complain [verb (intransitive)]
murkeOE
misspeakOE
yomer971
chidea1000
murkenOE
grutch?c1225
mean?a1300
hum13..
plainta1325
gruntc1325
plainc1325
musea1382
murmurc1390
complain1393
contrary1393
flitec1400
pinea1425
grummec1430
aggrudge1440
hoinec1440
mutterc1450
grudge1461
channerc1480
grunch1487
repine1529
storm?1553
expostulate1561
grumblea1586
gruntle1591
chunter1599
swagger1599
maunder1622
orp1634
objurgate1642
pitter1672
yelp1706
yammer1794
natter1804
murgeon1808
groan1816
squawk1875
jower1879
grouse1887
beef1888
to whip the cat1892
holler1904
yip1907
peeve1912
grouch1916
nark1916
to sound off1918
create1919
moana1922
crib1925
tick1925
bitch1930
gripe1932
bind1942
drip1942
kvetchc1950
to rag on1979
wrinch2011
1599 Master Broughtons Lett. Answered x. 35 Your heyfer..must..wander alone and chunner out an Heathenish conceit of descending into the world of soules poetically.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Chounter, to talk pertly, and (sometimes) angrily.
1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 321 Chunter..to express discontent about trifles.
1847–78 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words Chunter..also spelt chunner and chunder.
1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh II. 117 Th' capt'n went away chunterin'.
1921 D. H. Lawrence Sea & Sardinia iv. 135 A thin old woman..was chuntering her head off because it was her seat.
1949 C. Fry Lady's not for Burning 27 You..fog-blathering, Chin-chuntering, liturgical,..base old man!
1955 D. Barton Glorious Life i. 19 Paul's telephone rang... There was long chuntering on the wire.
1957 ‘N. Shute’ On Beach i. 2 The baby stirred, and started chuntering and making little whimpering noises.
1965 Spectator 5 Mar. 295/3 An old man..chunters a bit of folk tune which the solo horn dreamily perpetuates.
1968 Autocar 25 Jan. 27/2 The Herald ‘chunters’ straight across the road in front of us.
Derivatives
chuntering n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1832 Mrs. Toogood Specim. Yorks. Dial. (1863) He is a chuntering sort of fellow, never contented.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby ‘A chuntering bout’, a fit of sulkiness with impertinence.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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