slobber

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈslɒbə(ɹ)/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English sloberen,^[2][3][4][5] perhaps of Low German origin^[2] and probably imitative.^[4] It is related to Frisian slobberje “to slurp” and Middle Low German slubberen.^[3][4][5] Random House calls it a variant of slabber.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

To eat in a slovenly manner (14th century; about 1380 in Barnhart).^[7][3][5]

Semantic evolution

The noun first meant mud or slime (about 1400),^[7][3][4] and from 1755 saliva running from the mouth.^[7][3][4] The figurative sense of gushing with sentiment, slobber over, dates from 1825.^[7][2][6]

Timeline

• about 1380 – to slobber, implied in sloberande.^[3]
• about 1400 – noun, mud or slime.^[7][3][4]
• 1607 – to drool, per Merriam-Webster.^[5]
• 1755 – noun, saliva.^[7][3][4][5]
• 1825 – slobber over, to fuss over.^[7]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To let saliva run from the mouth; to drool.
2. To show feeling in an effusive, sentimental way; to gush.
3. To wet with saliva or dribbled liquid.

Noun

1. Saliva dribbling from the mouth.
2. Gushing, sentimental talk; drivel.

Word family

• slobberer
• slobbery

Related words

• slaver
• slob

Usage notes

Random House gives drool, dribble and slop as synonyms.^[6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press