# gab

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡæb/ · frequency rank #35,728

## Definitions
1. Idle chatter.
2. The mouth or gob.
3. One of the open-forked ends of rods controlling reversing in early steam engines.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English gab, gabbe, from Old Norse gabb (“jest, mockery”) (whence also Old French gab, gap (“mockery, derision, scorn”)). Cognate with Icelandic gabb (“hoax”).

## Easily confused with
- **go** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-go)
- **GM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gm)
- **GB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gb)
- **GF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gf)
- **GP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gp)
- **ge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-ge)
- **gi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gi)
- **GS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gs)
- **GC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gc)
- **GR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gr)
- **gg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gg)
- **GL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gl)
- **GU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gu)
- **gd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gd)
- **GH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gh)
- **get** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-get)
- **got** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-got)
- **god** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-god)
- **guy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-guy)
- **gas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gab-vs-gas)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gab