DictionaryRoot: momelen
Middle English

momelen

to eat slowly and ineffectively

1 / 1
An older woman speaks with barely parted lips and lowered eyes while a nearby listener leans closer and cups an ear, trying to catch her quiet, unclear words.
verb / noun

mumble

MUM-buhl/ˈmʌmbl/

Speech in a low voice that is hard to understand.

Etymology

Momelen first described slow, ineffective eating, perhaps talking with one's mouth full, before denoting indistinct speech. It was probably a frequentative formation from mum, the closed-mouth sound.

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