A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1608
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Babling, Babyling, n. Also: baibling. [e.m.E. bablinge, ME. babelynge (Wyclif).] Babbling.a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow 431 (all this grit brawling, babling and uther thing). c1520-c1535 Nisbet I. 267 (the outwarde babyling of the lyppis). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 44/23 (vaine babling of Godis worde). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 205 (thay silly freiris with babling blerit our E). a1585 Polwart Flyt. 630 (to babling aye bowne). 1608 in Calderwood VI. 744 (tautologeis and vaine baibling).
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"Babling n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/babling_n>
