blarney

See also: Blarney

English

WOTD – 17 March 2006

Etymology

Named after a legendary magical stone in Blarney Castle, Ireland that gives the gift of eloquence. See also Blarney Stone.

Pronunciation

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈblɑɹni/
  • (Ireland) IPA(key): /ˈblaːɹni/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈblɑːni/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)ni

Noun

blarney (uncountable)

  1. Mindless chatter.
    He is full of blarney.
  2. Ability to talk constantly and fluently.
  3. Persuasive flattery or kind speech; smooth, wheedling talk.

Translations

Verb

blarney (third-person singular simple present blarneys, present participle blarneying, simple past and past participle blarneyed)

  1. To beguile with flattery.

Derived terms

See also

Anagrams