noun / verb

tattle

TAT-ul/ˈtætl/

A childish report of someone's minor wrongdoing.

A girl tattles on a classmate for scribbling on his desk.

A schoolgirl insistently draws her teacher's attention to a classmate scribbling directly on his desktop.

Etymology

Tattle probably comes from Middle Flemish tatelen, “to stutter.” Its early meaning of childish prattling developed into talking unreservedly and spilling secrets, providing the bridge to reporting someone’s minor wrongdoing.

In context

Bubble Corner TV80:37

you Morgan's little sister used to twist the truth and tattle on her she made all the relatives so biased against Morgan

Country Girl Masters Kung Fu, Medicine & Tech! Ten Guards Fall—CEO Stunned, Then Kneels to Propose!!

More examples

Please don't tattle on your sister for taking an extra cookie.
His latest tattle concerns a classmate chewing gum.
She is always tattling about who talks during quiet time.

Forms

tattle · tattles · tattled · tattling

tattletale noun — Someone who childishly reports minor wrongdoing.

Similar words

snitch: Suggests secretly informing on people, often betraying their trust.
report: Neutral about the speaker's motive and the wrongdoing's seriousness.