~ 1
■ verb ( ~s , ~ting , ~ted ) talk in a friendly and informal way.
↘( ~ someone up ) informal engage someone in flirtatious conversation.
■ noun an informal conversation.
Origin
ME: shortening of ~ter .
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~ 2
■ noun used in names of various songbirds with harsh, ~tering calls, e.g. stone~ .
Origin
C17: prob. imitative of their calls.