blah English · revision 15358

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=1911}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bla/; /blɑː/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is imitative, of meaningless chatter,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(Collins 2023) probably from blah-blah, a derisive interjection.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Idle, meaningless or pretentious talk: 1918 in the OED and Etymonline, originally American;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1911.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective, bland or dull, is from 1919 in Etymonline, perhaps influenced by French [[m|fr|blasé]];^(Etymonline) the OED has it as mad from 1924 and dull from 1937.^(OED 1989) The verb, to talk blah, is from 1924.^(OED 1989) ''The blahs'', a feeling of depression or dissatisfaction, is attested by 1966.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1911 – blah (Merriam-Webster).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1918 – meaningless talk.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1919 – dull (adjective).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1966 – the blahs.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' Worthless or silly talk; [[nonsense]], [[drivel]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The blahs: a general feeling of dullness, discomfort or [[depression]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Dull and uninteresting; [[insipid]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Low in spirits or health.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[blather]]

+ * [[blab]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}