Yapps

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Continuous or excessive talking or chatter often perceived as trivial or annoying ; a loud, sharp bark or yelp made usually by a small dog ; a persistent or nagging verbal expression that serves to irritate or distract
2. The act of talking incessantly and without much substance ; a high-pitched and repeated vocalization by a small dog ; constant, often petty chatter that can be bothersome to others
3. Uninterrupted or trivial speech perceived as noise or nuisance ; a short, repeated bark typically from a small breed dog ; sustained verbal nagging or complaining that disrupts or disturbs peace

Etymology: "Yapps" is the plural of "yapp", a noun for a style of leather binding in which a flap or overhang wraps around the edges of a book or case to protect it. The binding is named after Yapp, the surname of the 19th-century bookbinder credited with inventing it, so the word began as a trade term for a kind of cover, not as a description of talk. The jump from leather bindings to chatter is not explained by the source, and the word's use in the sense of constant pointless chatter is a separate development. The plural form "yapps" is the one that matters here, as the form of the noun in the sense the word now carries. The connection between the two senses is one a reader can only guess at from the shared sound, so it is best left as an unexplained curiosity rather than a confirmed link.

Synonyms: barks, yaps, babbles, chats

Antonyms: silences, quiet, hushes