blubber

views updated May 11 2018

blub·ber¹ / ˈbləbər/ • n. the fat of sea mammals, esp. whales and seals. ∎ inf., derog. excessive human fat.DERIVATIVES: blub·ber·y adj.blub·ber² • v. [intr.] inf. sob noisily and uncontrollably: he was blubbering like a child.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

blubber

views updated May 14 2018

blubber vb. †bubble; weep copiously XIV; sb. †foam, bubble XIV; jelly-fish, fat of whales XVII. ME. blob-, bluber sb., blob-, bluberen vb., perh. of imit. orig.; Cf. G. dial. blubbern bubble, gabble.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD