slang words

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nats211
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slang words

Postby nats211 » 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.

bnjtokyo

"Pratty" Definition

Postby bnjtokyo » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:07 am

Dear Nats211,

According to one web site I found it is

"pratty = party but totally a million times awesomer"

But I don't know how reliable that definition is.

Cheers,

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gailr
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Postby gailr » Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:48 pm

In what context did you find this word?
British slang: "prat" for "idiot".

-gailr

Stargzer
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Postby Stargzer » Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:30 pm

Hmmm, several places it could have come from:
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
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee

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gailr
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Postby gailr » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:17 pm

Gzer, are you hinting that this word is derived from "talking out of one's butt?"

Just wondering. :)
-gailr

tcward
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Postby tcward » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:34 pm

Gzer, are you hinting that this word is derived from "talking out of one's butt?"
...another way of saying "cheeky comments"...? I don't want to assume... ;)

-Tim

greyvee
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Postby greyvee » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:38 pm

Well I think we now know where the term "Talking out of your ass" comes from

Stargzer
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Postby Stargzer » Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:52 pm

Well, I have to admit I didn't make the connection between prat and prattle and talking out one's backside, but that comic connection did make me realize the origin of pratfall:
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).
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.

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
Then again, if someone can show that prate is descended from prat (perhaps via the French péter?) . . .

:wink:
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee


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