v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Tattled p. pr. & vb. n. Tattling ] [ Akin to OE. tateren, LG. tateln, D. tateren to stammer, and perhaps to E. titter. ] 1. To prate; to talk idly; to use many words with little meaning; to chat. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tattling quality of age, which is always narrative. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To tell tales; to communicate secrets; to be a talebearer; as, a tattling girl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Idle talk or chat; trifling talk; prate. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ They ] told the tattle of the day. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who tattles; an idle talker; one who tells tales. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any one of several species of large, long-legged sandpipers belonging to the genus Totanus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common American species are the greater tattler, or telltale (Totanus melanoleucus), the smaller tattler, or lesser yellowlegs (Totanus flavipes), the solitary tattler (Totanus solitarius), and the semipalmated tattler, or willet. The first two are called also telltale, telltale spine, telltale tattler, yellowlegs, yellowshanks, and yelper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Idle talk or chat; tittle-tattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Given to idle talk; apt to tell tales. -- Tat"tling*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]