drivel

Etymology 1

From Middle English drivelen, drevelen, from Old English dreflian (“to drivel, slobber, slaver”), from Proto-Germanic *drablijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerebʰ- (“cloudy, turbid; yeast”).

noun

1. Nonsense; senseless talk.
   A ray of light amid all this nonsense was Gwyn Topham's piece in the Guardian, which was timely, measured, accurate and of appropriate tone. That this single report stood out so clearly as an exemplar is a scathing comment in itself on the volumes of drivel surrounding it. August 26 2020, Nigel Harris, “Comment Special: Catastrophe at Carmont”, in Rail, page 4
2. (archaic) Saliva, drool.
3. (obsolete) A fool; an idiot.

verb

1. To talk nonsense; to talk senselessly; to drool.
2. (archaic, intransitive) To have saliva drip from the mouth.
3. To be weak or foolish; to dote.

Etymology 2

Compare Old Dutch drevel (“scullion”).

noun

1. (obsolete) A servant; a drudge.

Etymology 3

Perhaps a blend of drive and dribble.

verb

1. To move or travel slowly.
   But that is a state of things, which must in time work its own cure. We cannot always go dribbling and drivelling along, government and people alike being the scoff of all onlookers. 7 Oct 1865, The Mercury, Hobart, page 2
   There was a good deal of bustle and life at the inn; but three or four inebriates drivelling about the premises were 'suffering a recovery,' from the excitement of the previous night's entertainment. 29 Oct 1872, The Newcastle Chronicle, NSW, page 4
   Walter was as silly as most men are when in love. He went drivelling off in pursuit of her "dear little work-worn hands"[.] 30 May1914, The Darling Downs Gazette, Qld, page 2
   "I am amazed to think we are in the second week of war and this country is still drivelling along with a small volunteer force," he added. 15 Sept 1939, The Daily Examiner, Grafton, NSW, page 5
2. To use up or to be used up.
   Instead of drivelling away the precious initiative season of life in the vain labour of teaching tuneable voices to sing[.] 17 Aug 1858, The Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, Vic, page 2
   It is for the country to say whether we are to keep on in this backward course, whether we are to go on getting deeper and deeper into debt, whether we are to have increased taxation year after year. The bone and sinew of the land is drivelling away. 31 Aug 1872, The Mercury, Hobart, page 2