First published 1887; not yet revised More entries for "blether"

blether | blathernoun

Factsheet

What does the noun blether mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun blether. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the noun blether?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1790	0.0077
1800	0.0083
1810	0.0075
1820	0.007
1830	0.0066
1840	0.0073
1850	0.0069
1860	0.0076
1870	0.0078
1880	0.0087
1890	0.0099
1900	0.011
1910	0.012
1920	0.012
1930	0.011
1940	0.01
1950	0.0095
1960	0.0086
1970	0.0074
1980	0.0067
1990	0.0063
2000	0.0064
2010	0.0064

See frequency

How is the noun blether pronounced?

British English

/ˈblɛðə/

BLEDH-uh

/ˈblaðə/

BLADH-uh

U.S. English

/ˈblɛθər/

BLETH-uhr

See pronunciation

Where does the noun blether come from?

Earliest known use

late 1700s

The earliest known use of the noun blether is in the late 1700s.

OED's earliest evidence for blether is from 1786, in the writing of Robert Burns, poet.

It is also recorded as a verb from the early 1500s.

blether is of multiple origins. Either (i) formed within English, by conversion. Or (ii) a borrowing from early Scandinavian.

Etymons: blether v.

See etymology

Nearby entries

blessing, adj.1659–
blessingly, adv.1836–
blet, n.
blet, v.1835–
bletch, n.1570
bletch, v.1570
bletchy, adj.1520–1633
blete, adj.Old English–1250
blethe, adj.Old English–1325
blethely, adv.c1300–1430
blether | blather, n.1786–
blether | blather, v.1524–
blethering, n.a1834–
blethering, adj.1759–
bletherumskite, n.1825–
blethery, adj.1889–
Bletonism, n.1821–
bleu, n. & adj.1885–
bleu-de-roi, n.1848–
blevindeliche, adv.1340–
bleving, n.

Browse more nearby entries

Personal account

blether | blathernoun

Quotations

Factsheet

What does the noun blether mean?

Entry status

How common is the noun blether?

How is the noun blether pronounced?

British English

U.S. English

Where does the noun blether come from?

Nearby entries

Etymology

Personal account

Meaning & use

Personal account

Pronunciation

Personal account

Frequency

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Compounds & derived words

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