Blabbermouth

/ˈblæb.ər.maʊθ/ noun

Definition

A person who talks too much and can't keep secrets, revealing information that was meant to be private.

Etymology

Compound word from 'blabber' (to talk excessively) plus 'mouth.' 'Blabber' comes from Germanic origins meaning 'to babble.' The compound was popularized in American English in the mid-20th century.

Kelly Says

A 'blabbermouth' is the opposite of someone who's close-mouthed—and the word itself sounds like someone talking too much with all those 'b' sounds at the beginning! Interestingly, some people are natural blabbermouths due to ADHD or high-openness personality traits, making it partly neurological rather than just rude.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Gossip/talkativeness stereotyped as female vice since at least 16th century; 'blabbermouth' inherited feminine connotations of uncontrolled speech and unreliability.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'indiscreet' or 'loose-lipped' to describe the behavior without gendered assumptions about who talks.

Inclusive Alternatives

["indiscreet person","loose-lipped","talkative","gossip"]

Empowerment Note

Women's historical exclusion from formal speech forums made informal communication a primary avenue for information-sharing and solidarity; labeling this as vice was a control mechanism.

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