http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/flibbertigibbet/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/flibbertigibbet/comment-page-1/#comment-43638 Of cats and butterflies and the pitfalls of old words « M.K. Mattias Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:37:23 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3034#comment-43638 [...] But perhaps all these attempts at delving into the supposed etymological roots of the word are misguided, and flibbertigibbet is simply one of those words that attempts to sound like the thing it describes. Think barnyard words like moo, oink, and woof.  This, indeed, is the explanation offered by Evan Morris (whose excellent site The Word Detective I have just discovered):  “Flibbertigibbet” almost certainly arose as an attempt to duplicate the sound of someone babbling or prattling on in meaningless chatter.  [...] [...] But perhaps all these attempts at delving into the supposed etymological roots of the word are misguided, and flibbertigibbet is simply one of those words that attempts to sound like the thing it describes. Think barnyard words like moo, oink, and woof.  This, indeed, is the explanation offered by Evan Morris (whose excellent site The Word Detective I have just discovered):  “Flibbertigibbet” almost certainly arose as an attempt to duplicate the sound of someone babbling or prattling on in meaningless chatter.  [...]

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2010/04/flibbertigibbet/comment-page-1/#comment-21077 Chris Baraniuk Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:29:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3034#comment-21077 I was intrigued by the two words which seem to form the basis for 'flibbertigibbet', those being 'flibber' and 'gibbet'. My friend asked whether the use of 'gibbet' meant that 'flibbertigibbet' had anything to do with gallows or execution. However, you list 'flybbergybe' as one older spelling and this led me to research the meaning of 'gybe' or 'jibe' which comes from an old Dutch word, 'gijpen' and means to sway the fore-and-aft sail of a boat from one side to the other (http://www.yourdictionary.com/wotd/gybe,+gibe,+jibe). This would conjure up the idea of see-sawing speech, wouldn't it? Chatter seemingly darting from one topic to another, perhaps? As for 'flibber', well, that's a little more difficult... Very tenuously might I suggest that it relates to the Latin 'fillip' from which we derive 'flip' and consequently may also conjure up an image describing sudden movement? ( http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fillip ) I have to admit, though, that these conjectures are most likely wishful thinking... Unless anyone else can back me up? I was intrigued by the two words which seem to form the basis for ‘flibbertigibbet’, those being ‘flibber’ and ‘gibbet’. My friend asked whether the use of ‘gibbet’ meant that ‘flibbertigibbet’ had anything to do with gallows or execution. However, you list ‘flybbergybe’ as one older spelling and this led me to research the meaning of ‘gybe’ or ‘jibe’ which comes from an old Dutch word, ‘gijpen’ and means to sway the fore-and-aft sail of a boat from one side to the other (http://www.yourdictionary.com/wotd/gybe,+gibe,+jibe). This would conjure up the idea of see-sawing speech, wouldn’t it? Chatter seemingly darting from one topic to another, perhaps? As for ‘flibber’, well, that’s a little more difficult… Very tenuously might I suggest that it relates to the Latin ‘fillip’ from which we derive ‘flip’ and consequently may also conjure up an image describing sudden movement? ( http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fillip ) I have to admit, though, that these conjectures are most likely wishful thinking… Unless anyone else can back me up?

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