Chatterbox
/ˈtʃætərˌbɒks/noun
A person who talks a lot, especially in a rapid or noisy way.
Did you know?Unlike words with ancient ritual or occult roots, *chatterbox* is a vivid English compound that turns excessive speech into a physical container, as if language itself could be boxed up.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
ceatrian
“to chatter, talk rapidly or idly”
Middle English
ME
chateren
“to talk quickly or noisily”
15th Century
English
chatter
“noisy, rapid, meaningless talk”
17th Century
English
box
“a container or receptacle”
18th Century
English
chatterbox
“a person who talks incessantly”