town talk

noun

1
: the common talk of a place (as a city or town) : public gossip
disregarded the rumor as mere town talk
the only real evidence is the town talkJ. A. Froude
2
: the matter (as the subject or object) of public gossip
was town talk for at least three daysW. M. Thackeray

Word History

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of town talk was in 1642

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near town talk

Cite this Entry

“Town talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/town%20talk. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!