blather

Blather is a verb meaning to talk at length in a foolish, meaningless, or irritating way. As a noun, it denotes the act of such talk or the words spoken in that manner.

Origin and history: The precise origin is uncertain. The word is often linked to onomatopoeic imitations of idle speech and to related Scots terms such as blether. The form blather appears in English usage by the 19th century and remains informal in tone.

Usage and connotation: Blather is typically informal and often mildly pejorative. It describes rambling, repetitive, or nonsensical talk rather than substantive discourse. It can refer to a person who talks too much, a long-winded answer, or a speaker who does not make a clear point. The adjacent forms blathering or blathered describe the ongoing action or past occurrence.

Examples and related terms: Blather commonly appears in discussions of speeches, meetings, or casual conversation to criticize pointless chatter. Related terms include blether, blabber, prattle, gab, and yammer, which carry similar senses of idle or excessive talk. See also blether (Scottish) for a closely related word.