mumblen.
/ˈmʌmbl/, U.S. /ˈməmb(ə)l/ A mumbled or indistinct utterance or sound.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > murmuring or muttering > a mumbled utterance
mumble1653
admurmuring1677
1653 N. Hookes Amanda 57 I've heard your base mumble and mutter too.
1827 G. Darley Sylvia ii. i. 40 Louder! louder!—I can scarcely catch a mumble.
a1855 C. Brontë Professor (1857) I. vii. 122 I listened to a dozen in rotation, and when the twelfth had concluded with splutter, hiss, and mumble, I solemnly laid down the book.
1886 Harper's Mag. Feb. 437/2 Mrs. Wicks's discourse relapsed into a mumble which neither Mr. Jim Baskins nor any of the others present could very well understand.
1904 R. Kipling Traffics & Discov. 308 A mumble of bees and broken voices that might have been the doves.
1913 J. Conrad Chance i. i. 13 He said: ‘How do you do?’ quite kindly to my mumble.
1952 R. C. Hutchinson Recoll. of Journey ii. 14 Their voices reached us only like the distant mumble of a congregation at prayer.
1985 F. Raphael Heaven & Earth xiv. 214 The lights flickered..and they heard the mumble of thunder.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
mumblev.
/ˈmʌmbl/, U.S. /ˈməmb(ə)l/α. Middle English momele, Middle English momell, Middle English momely, Middle English momyl, Middle English momyll, Middle English (1800s– English regional (north-western)) mummel, Middle English–1500s momel, Middle English–1500s mumle; Scottish pre-1700 mumil, pre-1700 mumill, pre-1700 mummil, pre-1700 mummill, pre-1700 mummyll, pre-1700 1700s (1900s– Orkney) mumell, pre-1700 1800s mumle, 1800s mumul, 1800s– mummel, 1800s– mummle, 1900s– muml (Shetland); also Irish English (northern) 1900s– mummle.
β. Middle English mombyll, Middle English–1500s momble, Middle English–1500s mumbyll, Middle English– mumble, 1500s mumbell, 1500s mumbil, 1800s– mumple (English regional); Scottish pre-1700 mumbill, pre-1700 1700s– mumble.
1. † c. transitive and intransitive. In extended use. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To eat slowly and ineffectually; to chew tentatively with or as with toothless gums. Now rare.In quot. a1350 perhaps: to speak with one's mouth full.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > processes or manners of eating > eat via specific process [verb (intransitive)] > chew > chew softly
mumblea1350
mump1596
a1350 in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 28 (MED) Þe knaue crommeþ is crop er þe cok crawe; he momeleþe & moccheþ ant marreþ is mawe.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 642/1 Se yonder olde trot howe she mumbleth:..comment elle masche en belyn.
1575 J. Awdely Fraternitye of Vacabondes (new ed.) sig. B1 Sitting as it were alone, mumblyng on a crust.
a1627 T. Middleton Chast Mayd in Cheape-side (1630) i. 5 I haue Teeth Sir, I need not mumble yet this forty yeeres.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa III. lxxvi. 351 Take ye that thistle to mumble upon.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. i. 3 As proud, and, alas! as unconscious as the calf with gilded horns, who plays and mumbles with the flowers of the garland.
1880 Scribner's Monthly Jan. 426/1 ‘Mis' Leavitt were a master hand at pie-crust,’ remarked one toothless dame, mumbling at the flaky paste.
b. transitive. To bite or chew with toothless gums; to eat without making much use of the teeth; to turn over and over in the mouth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > processes or manners of eating > eat via specific process [verb (transitive)] > chew > softly
mumble1591
mump1599
chavel1610
1591 J. Lyly Endimion iv. ii. sig. Gv Tis a stately occupation to stande..in a colde Morning, and to haue his nose bytten with frost, before hys baite be mumbled with a Fish.
1664 G. Etherege Comical Revenge iii. iv. 37 My Master pick'd him Up before a Puppit-show, mumbling a half-penny Custard.
1693 J. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires x. 204 And Gums unarm'd to Mumble Meat in vain.
1699 E. Ward London Spy I. vii. 15 She..bites a piece of the Cheese, and after she had mumbled it about in her own Mouth, then thrust it with her Tongue into the Kittens.
1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth III. 73 They're able enough to Mumble a Pudding.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock III. iv. 111 A child mumbling ginger-bread.
1846 E. Bulwer-Lytton Lucretia II. ii. Prol. 101 His glove fell to the ground, and his spaniel mumbled it into shreds.
1876 J. Greenwood Low-life Deeps 19 A dog which..now was old, and toothless and incapable of doing more than ‘mumble’ the juvenile antagonist.
1886 B. Brierley Cast upon World 71 When one has to mumple everythin' beant teeth a good dinner's no trate.
1918 J. Galsworthy Five Tales 338 He sat..mumbling with his lips the end of an unlighted cigar.
1946 G. Hopkins tr. F. Mauriac Woman of Pharisees xiii. 163 There..to grudge them the very black bread which they mumbled with their toothless gums.
1977 ‘E. Crispin’ Glimpses of Moon iii. 47 Fen conscientiously mumbled pansy petals between tongue and soft palate until Ellis gave signs of being sated.
ΚΠ
a1650 D. Calderwood Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1843) III. 302 George Bishop of Murrey was a whole winter mummilling upon his papers, and had not his sermon per cœur when all was done.
1695 W. Congreve Love for Love Prol. sig. a3 As Asses Thistles, Poets mumble Wit, And dare not bite, for fear of being bit.
1864 J. R. Lowell Fireside Trav. 291 The sea laps and mumbles the soft roots of the hills.
1883 A. Forbes in Fortn. Rev. 1 Nov. 673 A victim which she [sc. France] was to be allowed only to mumble, not utterly to rend.
d. transitive. To fondle eagerly with the lips, as if devouring; (also) to use the lips in this way. Also intransitive. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > kiss > [verb (transitive)] > fondle with the lips
mumble1668
1668 G. Etherege She wou'd if she Cou'd i. ii. 11 A right bred Grey-hound can as well forbear Running after a Hare..as I can Mumbling a pretty Wench.
1695 W. Congreve Love for Love v. i. 79 Give me t'other Hand, and I'll mumble 'em, and kiss 'em till they melt in my Mouth.
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle I. xxx. 206 Peregrine..mumbled her soft white hand in an extasy.
1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations xxxviii, in All Year Round 4 May 122/1 She hung upon Estella's beauty,..and sat mumbling her own trembling fingers..as though she were devouring the beautiful creature she had reared.
1880 M. Arnold Let. 15 May (1895) II. 169 [He] dropped on his knees..and mumbled the cardinal's hand like a piece of cake.
1882 Cent. Mag. June 270/1 She began to mumble it with her lips, and to talk baby-talk to it.
1884 C. Reade Jilt 7 She drew away the hand he was mumbling.
1898 Harper's New Monthly Mag. Aug. 413/1 She had the baby on her knee, and was..mumbling her lips over the little dimpled arm.
1918 G. E. Jackson Peggy Stewart at School ii. 23 The horses toyed and played with him,..mumbling at his cheeks with their velvety lips.
1946 L. W. Hughes No Time for Tears 221 He..sort of nosed her, as friendly horses do, mumbling her sleeve in his soft old pips.
2.
a. intransitive. To speak indistinctly or with the lips partly closed; to mutter; †to babble (obsolete).
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 > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > be talkative [verb (intransitive)] > talk excessively or chatter
chavel?c1225
babblea1250
chattera1250
clacka1250
janglea1300
ganglec1300
clapc1315
mumblec1350
blabberc1375
carp1377
tatterc1380
garre1382
rattlec1400
clatter1401
chimec1405
gabc1405
pattera1450
smattera1450
languetc1450
pratec1460
chat1483
jabber1499
clittera1529
cackle1530
prattle1532
blatter1533
blab1535
to run on pattens1546
tattle1547
prittle-prattlea1555
trattlea1555
tittle-tattle1556
quiddlea1566
brabble1570
clicket1570
twattle1573
gabble1574
prittle1583
to like to hear oneself speak, talk1597
to word it1612
deblaterate1623
tongue1624
twitter1630
snatter1647
oversay1656
whiffle1706
to gallop away1711
splutter1728
gob1770
gibble-gabble1775
palaver1781
to talk (etc.) nineteen to the dozen1785
gammon1789
witter1808
yabble1808
yaff1808
mag1810
chelp1820
tongue-pad1825
yatter1825
potter1826
chipper1829
jaw-jaw1831
buzz1832
to shoot off one's mouth1864
yawp1872
blate1878
chin1884
yap1888
spiel1894
to talk (also lie, swear, etc.) a blue streak1895
to run off at the mouth1908
chattermag1909
clatfart1913
to talk a streak1915
to run one's mouth1916
natter1942
ear-bash1944
rabbit1950
yack1950
yacker1961
to eat parrot head (also bottom)1965
yacket1969
to twat on1996
c1350 in London Mediaeval Stud. (1951) 2 43 (MED) I was wonet..wyt horn and hound an hontyng to fare; Bote I momele on myn matyns..from erly on marne to myddey.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. v. 21 (MED) Of þis Matere I mihte Momele [v.r. momelid; C: myghte momely] ful longe.
a1450 York Plays (1885) 236 My fellows momellis þame emang.
?a1518 Ualentyne & Orson (?1565) xxi. sig. Ivii He begane for to momble apace and makyng sygnes that vppone the morowe he woulde fyght wyth hyme.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. B He mumbled soft, but would not all his silence breake.
1683 W. Kennett tr. Erasmus Witt against Wisdom 107 The Auditors all wondred and some mumbled to themselves.
1719 C. Johnson Masquerade iii. i. 39 Enter one Gamester from the Hazard-Table, his Arms across, and mumbling to himself.
1844 Hood's Mag. 2 402 She returned no thanks, but mumbled continually to herself.
1879 R. Browning Halbert & Hob 64 So tottered, muttered, mumbled he, till he died.
1902 A. Lang Hist. Scotl. II. xiii. 352 He heard the old woman mumbling to herself.
1984 R. Frame Winter Journey ii. 91 My father spoke quietly at first, he mumbled almost.
b. intransitive. In extended use.
ΚΠ
1842 R. W. Emerson Lect. Transcend. in Wks. (1906) II. 291 Church and old book mumble and ritualize to an unheeding..mind.
1893 S. Baring-Gould Cheap Jack Zita I. i. 9 The organ was still mumbling and tooting.
1993 New Yorker 18 Oct. 100 The wind mumbles and stammers, twitches, as if it were alive and standing still.
3.
a. transitive. To utter in subdued or indistinct tones. (Often with direct speech as object.)In quot. a1547: to utter furtively, to whisper.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > mutter or mumble
muttera1425
mumblec1450
murmurc1460
blabber?a1513
palter?1548
fumble1555
flummer1563
chaw1570
buzz1583
mumpa1586
demurmurate1641
loll1655
muttera1690
swallowa1791
sough1821
hummera1860
lip1887
mum-mumble1917
potato-mouth1937
rhubarb1958
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > whisper
roundOE
tutel?c1225
whistera1382
mumblec1450
tickle1575
siffilate1836
stage-whisper1978
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 154 It are þei þat, whanne þei are wrothe..momyll þe deuelys bedys.
?a1500 (a1475) Wright's Chaste Wife (1869) l. 641 They mombyll on ther bedys Ther pater noster.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 642/1 He mumbleth his wordes, byd hym speke out playnly.
a1547 King Henry VIII Let. in R. Fiddes Life Wolsey (1724) Collect. 175 I dare be bolder with you then a great many that mumbell it abroad.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 174 Sum mumlit Aueis, sum craknit Creidis.
1629 L. Owen Speculum Iesuiticum (new ed.) 17 By one meanes or other, he learned to mumble a Masse.
1681 N. Lee Lucius Junius Brutus i. i. 4 Did'st thou ne're steal from the Gods an hour, or so, To mumble a new Prayer?
1710 T. Ruddiman in G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneis (new ed.) Gloss. at Patteraris In some places..they yet say..to patter out Prayers, i.e. mutter or mumble them.
1748 J. Mason Ess. Elocution 10 When a person mumbles, or (as we say) clips or swallows his Words.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 183 He affirmed, that we mumbled our speech with our lips and teeth.
1844 Hood's Mag. 2 610 ‘A likely story!’ mumbled Mr. Hix, in a tone between publishing and smothering the remark.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. vii. 121 Tom mumbled something to the effect that it was by no means necessary.
1919 P. G. Wodehouse Their Mutual Child i. i. 16 She eyed the speaker sternly. He wilted. ‘Yes, ma'am,’ he mumbled sheepishly.
1937 R. K. Narayan Bachelor of Arts i. 21 The secretary..mumbled a vote of thanks.
1986 India Today 31 July 12/1 Within minutes pipe-smoking secretaries mumbling pejoratives under their breath began walking out.
b. transitive. With †forth, out, over, †up.
ΚΠ
1534 tr. Erasmus Enchiridion Militis Christiani (new ed.) vii. sig. Hvi Thou in the meane space momblest vp thy prayer vnto god.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 88 Mumblyng up a certayn nombur of wordys no thyng understonde.
a1555 D. Lindsay Tragedie in Dialog Experience & Courteour (1559) sig. Sviij Thay be clokit vp, in clerkis arraye..And mummyll ouer ane pair of maglit matenis.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xxi. f. 110 b [They] goe to bathe..mumbling out certaine long prayers.
1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley ii. sig. D3 I haue a Priest will mumble vp a marriage, Without bell, booke, or candle.
1658 tr. G. della Porta Nat. Magick xx. 407 Then they mumble forth some words.
1701 in D. Laing Var. Pieces Fugitive Sc. Poetry (1853) 2nd Ser. xlvi. 71 And 'gainst his country mumells out long speeches.
1787 F. Burney Diary 18 Jan. (1842) III. 279 I..mumbled out my own little compliment.
1834 C. C. F. Greville Mem. 1 Dec. (1875) III. xxv. 166 The priest mumbles over the prayers.
1892 A. Conan Doyle Adventures Sherlock Holmes vi. 130 Each mumbling out his own thoughts, and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour.
1927 V. Woolf To Lighthouse ii. v. 197 Some channel..through which light enough issued to..make her, turning to her job again, mumble out the old music hall song.
1981 M. Magorian Goodnight, Mister Tom (1983) (BNC) 74 Willie grew more reticent and mumbled out something that George couldn't hear.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harshness > [verb (transitive)]
misbedeOE
wait1303
beshrewc1325
misusea1382
mistreat1453
mishandle1530
misorder1550
mumble1588
maltreat1681
ill-treat1794
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > ill-treatment > ill-treat [verb (transitive)]
tuckc888
tawc893
misbedeOE
graithc1330
to fare fair or foul with1340
misusea1382
outrayc1390
beshrewc1430
huspelc1440
misentreat1450
mistreat1453
abuse?1473
to mayne evil1481
demean1483
to put (a person) to villainya1513
harry1530
mishandle1530
touse1531
misorder1550
worrya1556
yark1565
mumble1588
buse1589
crow-tread1593
disabuse1607
maltreat1681
squeeze1691
ill-treat1794
punish1801
tousle1826
ill-use1841
razoo1890
mess1896
to play horse with1896
to bugger about1921
slug1925
to give (a person) the works1927
to kick about or around1938
mess1963
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > be unskilled in [verb (transitive)] > bungle
botch1530
bungle1530
mumble1588
muddle1605
mash1642
bumble?1719
to fall through ——1726
fuck1776
blunder1805
to make a mull of1821
bitch1823
mess1823
to make a mess of1834
smudge1864
to muck up1875
boss1887
to make balls of1889
duff1890
foozle1892
bollocks1901
fluff1902
to make a muck of1903
bobble1908
to ball up1911
jazz1914
boob1915
to make a hash of1920
muff1922
flub1924
to make a hat of1925
to ass up1932
louse1934
screw1938
blow1943
to foul up1943
eff1945
balls1947
to make a hames of1947
to arse up1951
to fuck up1967
dork1969
sheg1981
bodge1984
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > confuse or disorder [verb (transitive)] > mix up in confusion
broil1401
blunderc1440
jumble1542
mingle1548
tumble1562
mumble1588
pell-mell1606
fubble1611
1588 J. Read tr. F. Arcaeus Compend. Method ii. v. f. 42v Using grosse needles they take more of the flesh then nedeth..the orifices of the woundes being wrested from their course, they leave mumled together.
a1605 W. Haughton English-men for my Money (1616) sig. D2v By M. Pisaros leaue, Monsieur Ile mumble you, except you learne to know, whom you speake to.
1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy v. 74 He has mumbled his nose, that 'tis as big as a great Cod peece.
1639 J. Ford Ladies Triall ii. sig. E Tis sayd..that a' has firkt And mumbl'd the roguie-Turkes.
1672 W. Wycherley Love in Wood iii. iv I have beat him out of the pit. I do so mumble these prating, censorious fellows they call wits, when I meet with them!
1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries 496 Mercers never tie up anything they sell, and if they allow paper, they only rudely mumble up the commodities in it.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 50. ⁋11 [I] shall leave you to be mumbled by the learned and very ingenious Author of a late Book.
1721–2 N. Amhurst Terræ-filius (1754) No. 44. 233 This was..a circumstance..that might be handsomely touch'd upon in a dedication. Let us see how our bungler mumbles it.
1753 H. Walpole Let. 24 May in Corr. (1974) XXXVII. 363 Mr. Fox mumbled the Chancellor and his lawyers.
1890 J. D. Robertson Gloss. Words County of Gloucester 99 Mr. S. sez is accounts was mumbled. Now if is accounts was mumbled, oo mumbled em?
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > general preparation processes > perform general preparation processes [verb (transitive)] > cut in small pieces
shredc1386
dice?c1390
sippet1689
mumble1728
1728 E. Smith Compl. Housewife (ed. 2) 12 To mumble Rabbets and Chickens... When they are half boiled..tear the Flesh from the Bones of the Rabbet in small flakes, and put it into the Stew-pan again with a very little of the Liquor it was boiled in,..when 'tis enough shake in a little Flour, and thicken it up with Butter.
Compounds
ΚΠ
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iii. sig. B.ijv Madge Mumblecrust.
1603 T. Dekker et al. Patient Grissill sig. H3v Beg. Iacke-mumble-crust steale no penny loaues.
c1623 Welsh Embassador (1921) 45 That old mumble crust lord her father coyted mee out of doores.
1672 J. Phillips Maronides v. 133 A consecrated Cheescake next..He gave old Vesta, old indeed, Sh'had liv'd five thousand years a Maid; Now call'd the Goddes mumble-Crust.
ΚΠ
1560 Bp. J. Pilkington Aggeus the Prophete (1562) 41 Howe can they be learned, havinge none to teache them but Sir John Mumble-matins?
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > rumour > [noun] > tale-bearer
rounderOE
blabc1374
tale-teller1377
clatterer1388
tittlerc1400
talebearer1478
whisterer1519
whisperer1547
telltale1548
tattler1549
clatterfart1552
tale-carrier1552
babbler?1555
gossip1566
gossiper1568
carry-tale1577
mumble-news1598
twitter1598
buzzer1604
blob-talea1670
gadabout1757
tell-pie1771
circulator1792
clype1825
windjammer1880
tattle-tale1889
panta1908
clatfarta1930
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 464 Some carry tale,..Some mumble newes,..Tolde our intentes before. View more context for this quotation
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1653
v.a1350