gab
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
GABBER or GABBLE, talk; "gift of the GAB," loquacity, or natural talent for speech-making.—Anglo-Norman; GAB is also found in the Danish and Old Norse.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “gab” mean?
GABBER or GABBLE, talk; "gift of the GAB," loquacity, or natural talent for speech-making.—Anglo-Norman; GAB is also found in the Danish and Old Norse.
Is “gab” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.