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#1459 04/18/00 09:55 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
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efroch Offline OP
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Hello,

could anyone please tell me about the etymology for this word?

Thanks, Anat


#1460 04/19/00 08:15 AM
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jmh Offline
Pooh-Bah
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I'm pretty sure it comes from the word "Gibber" - to make the characteristic sound of a monkey. Its an imitative word - according to my Collins Dictionary - 17th century.

(For Ozzies - I see there is another Australian meaning for gibber - boulder or stone, or dry flat area covered in stones - as in gibber plans)


#1461 04/22/00 12:27 PM
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addict
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Hello efroch:

My Shorter Oxford dates "gibberish" as early 16th century and defines it as "unintelligible speech belonging to no known language, a series of meaningless sounds; blundering or ungrammatical talk; nonsense".

Cheers
Paul Bywater







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