slang words
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:38 pm
Hi there,
Can anyone help me with the meaning of pratty? I think it is a slang word. Thanks.
Can anyone help me with the meaning of pratty? I think it is a slang word. Thanks.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
prat
PRONUNCIATION: prăt
NOUN: Slang The buttocks.
ETYMOLOGY: Origin unknown.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
prattle
SYLLABICATION: prat·tle
PRONUNCIATION: prăt' l
VERB: Inflected forms: prat·tled, prat·tling, prat·tles
INTRANSITIVE VERB: To talk or chatter idly or meaninglessly; babble or prate.
TRANSITIVE VERB: To utter or express by chattering foolishly or babbling.
NOUN: 1. Idle or meaningless chatter; babble. 2. A sound suggestive of such chattering; a babbling noise.
ETYMOLOGY: Frequentative of prate.
OTHER FORMS: prattler —NOUN
prattling·ly —ADVERB
...another way of saying "cheeky comments"...? I don't want to assume...Gzer, are you hinting that this word is derived from "talking out of one's butt?"
Alas, a bit more research shows that the prat-prattle-barking backside connection will probably fall on its own prat:The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
pratfall
SYLLABICATION: prat·fall
PRONUNCIATION: prăt' fôl'
NOUN: 1. A fall on the buttocks. 2. A humiliating error, failure, or defeat: “His characters not only survive their snarled problems and pratfalls but learn from their experiences” (Joyce Carol Oates).
Then again, if someone can show that prate is descended from prat (perhaps via the French péter?) . . .The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
prate
PRONUNCIATION: prāt
VERB: Inflected forms: prat·ed, prat·ing, prates
INTRANSITIVE VERB: To talk idly and at length; chatter.
TRANSITIVE VERB: To utter idly or to little purpose.
NOUN: Empty, foolish, or trivial talk; idle chatter.
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English praten, from Middle Dutch prāten.
OTHER FORMS: prater —NOUN
prating·ly —ADVERB