/ ˈtætl; NAmE / verb
[ v ] tattle (on sb) (to sb) ( informal disapproving , especially NAmE ) to tell sb, especially sb in authority, about sth bad that sb else has done
SYN tell on sb
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent. (in the sense falter, stammer , also make meaningless sounds , referring to a small child): from Middle Flemish tatelen , tateren , of imitative origin.