Heading
dialectical, chatter-basket being the Lancashire form; while in West Somerset they say chatter-bag. Cf., Chatterbox.
Chatter-bones, Chatter-cart,
and Chatter-bladder, subs.
(common).—Variants of chatter-box
(q.v). For synonyms, see
Clack-box.
1842. Dickens, American Notes, ch. xi., p. 94. That little girl of fifteen with the loquacious chin: who, to do her justice, acts up to it . . . for of all the small chatterbones that ever invaded the repose of drowsy ladies' cabin, she is the first and foremost.
Chatterbox, subs. (colloquial).—An
incessant talker; used contemptuously
of adults and playfully
of children. [From chatter,
gabble + box, a receptacle;
metaphorically, a box full of chatter
Cf., Bag of bones.] A variant
is chatterbones (q.v.). For
synonyms, see Clack-box.
1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Chatter Box, one whose tongue runs twelve score to the dozen; a chattering man or woman.
1840. C. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop [C. D. ed.], p. 93. A set of idle chatterboxes.
1878. E. Jenkins, Haverholme, p.52. A mere political chatterbox.
Chatter-Broth, subs. (old).—Tea;
the beverage and the party. A
Yorkshire equivalent is chatter-water.
Quoted by Grose [1785].
Variants are cat-lap and scandal-broth
(q.v.).
Chatterer, subs. (pugilistic).—A
heavy blow upon the mouth; or,
says Peter Corcoran, 'a blow that
tells.' For synonyms see Dig.
1827. Reynolds ('Peter Corcoran'), Sonnet on The Fancy. I've left the Fives-Court rush,—the flash—the rally The noise of 'Go it, Jack'—the stop—the blow—The shout—the chattering hit—the check—the sally.
Chatterers, subs. (common).—The
teeth. For synonyms, see
Grinders.
Chattery, subs. (thieves').—See quot.
1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Chattery, cotton, or linen goods.
Chatty, subs. (old).—A filthy man.
[From chat (q.v.), a louse, + y.]
English variants are chatty-dosser,
crummy - dosser.
Amongst French equivalents may
be mentioned un bifteck à maquart
(Maquart is the name of a
well-known knacker); un sale
pâtissier (literally a dirty pastry-*cook);
un kroumir; un gorgniat;
un pégocier.
Adj. (common).—Filthy; lousy. [For derivation, see subs.] A French equivalent is graphiqué—itself a very 'telling,' 'speaking,' or 'chatty' expression; also malastiqué.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Chatty: lousy.
Chatty-Feeder, subs. (old).—A
spoon. [A vague reference to
the mouth as the place of 'chat'
or 'chatter.'] For synonyms see
Wedge-feeder.
1881. New York Slang Dictionary. 'And where the swag so bleakly pinched, A hundred stretches hence?. . . The chips, the fawneys, chatty-feeders.
Chaunt, subs. (old).—A song.—See
Chant, subs., sense 1.
Verb (vagrants').—To sing ballads, etc., in the streets.—See Chant, verb, sense 1.
To Chaunt the play, verbal phr. (thieves').—To explain the tricks and manœuvres of thieves.
