blarney
UK /ˈblɑːni/ · US /ˈblɑɹni/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms blarneys blarneying blarneyed
- noun Mindless chatter. “He is full of blarney.”
- noun Ability to talk constantly and fluently.
- noun Persuasive flattery or kind speech; smooth, wheedling talk.
- verb To beguile with flattery.
- proper noun A town in County Cork, Ireland, location of Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone (Irish grid ref W 6175).
Synonyms
coaxing soft soap sweet talk wheedle cajole palaver coax sweet-talk inveigle
Etymology
Named after a legendary magical stone in Blarney Castle, Ireland that gives the gift of eloquence. See also Blarney Stone.
From Irish Blarna.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Smooth, wheedling talk; flattery. [Colloq.] Blarney stone, a stone in Blarney castle, Ireland, said to make those who kiss it proficient in the use of blarney.
- verb To influence by blarney; to wheedle with smooth talk; to make or accomplish by blarney. "Blarneyed the landlord." Irving.
Etymology [Blarney, a village and castle near Cork.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “blarney”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details