Hypertext Webster Gateway: "gossip"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Gossip \Gos"sip\, n. [OE. gossib, godsib, a relation or sponsor
in baptism, a relation by a religious obligation, AS.
godsibb, fr. god + sib alliance, relation; akin to G. sippe,
Goth. sibja, and also to Skr. sabh[=a] assembly.]
1. A sponsor; a godfather or a godmother.
Should a great lady that was invited to be a gossip,
in her place send her kitchen maid, 't would be ill
taken. --Selden.
2. A friend or comrade; a companion; a familiar and customary
acquaintance. [Obs.]
My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal. --Shak.
3. One who runs house to house, tattling and telling news; an
idle tattler.
The common chat of gossips when they meet. --Dryden.
4. The tattle of a gossip; groundless rumor.
Bubbles o'er like a city with gossip, scandal, and
spite. --Tennyson.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Gossip \Gos"sip\, v. t.
To stand sponsor to. [Obs.] --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Gossip \Gos"sip\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Gossiped}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Gossiping}.]
1. To make merry. [Obs.] --Shak.
2. To prate; to chat; to talk much. --Shak.
3. To run about and tattle; to tell idle tales.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
gossip
n 1: light informal conversation for social occasions [syn: {chitchat},
{small talk}, {gab}, {gabfest}, {tittle-tattle}, {chin-wag},
{chin-wagging}, {causerie}]
2: a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other
people; "the divorce caused much gossip" [syn: {comment},
{scuttlebutt}]
3: a person given to gossiping and divulging personal
information about others [syn: {gossiper}, {rumormonger},
{rumourmonger}, {newsmonger}]
v 1: wag one's tongue; speak about others and reveal secrets or
intimacies
2: chew the fat; shoot the breeze [syn: {chat}, {confabulate},
{confab}, {chitchat}, {chatter}, {chaffer}, {natter}, {jaw},
{claver}, {visit}]
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