Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Drivel

Driv′el

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Driveled
or
Drivelled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Driveling
or
Drivelling
.]
[Cf. OE.
dravelen
,
drabelen
,
drevelen
,
drivelen
, to slaver, and E.
drabble
. Cf.
Drool
.]
1.
To slaver; to let spittle drop or flow from the mouth, like a child, idiot, or dotard.
2.
[Perh. a different word: cf. Icel.
drafa
to talk thick.]
To be weak or foolish; to dote;
as, a
driveling
hero;
driveling
love.
Shak. Dryden.

Driv′el

,
Noun.
1.
Slaver; saliva flowing from the mouth.
2.
Inarticulate or unmeaning utterance; foolish talk; babble.
3.
A driveler; a fool; an idiot.
[Obs.]
Sir P. Sidney.
4.
A servant; a drudge.
[Obs.]
Huloet.

Webster 1828 Edition


Drivel

DRIVEL

,
Verb.
I.
drivl. [from the root of drip.]
1.
To slaver; to let spittle drop or flow from the mouth, like a child, idiot or dotard.
2.
To be weak or foolish; to dote; as a driveling hero; driveling love.

DRIVEL

,
Noun.
1.
Slaver; saliva flowing from the mouth.
2.
A driveller; a fool; an idiot. [Not used.]

Definition 2024


drivel

drivel

English

Noun

drivel (uncountable)

  1. senseless talk; nonsense
  2. saliva, drool
  3. (obsolete) A fool; an idiot.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Philip Sidney to this entry?)
  4. (obsolete) A servant; a drudge.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Huloet to this entry?)

Translations

Verb

drivel (third-person singular simple present drivels, present participle driveling or drivelling, simple past and past participle driveled or drivelled)

  1. To have saliva drip from the mouth; to drool.
  2. To talk nonsense; to talk senselessly.
  3. To be weak or foolish; to dote.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)

Translations

Synonyms

  • To have saliva drip from the mouth : drool
  • To talk nonsense : See also Wikisaurus:nonsense.

References

  • drivel in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913