yammer

Meaning

Verb

1. To complain peevishly.
2. To talk loudly and persistently.
3. To repeat on and on, usually loudly or in complaint.
4. To make an outcry; to clamor.
5. to repeatedly call someone's name.

Noun

1. The act or noise of yammering.
2. A loud noise.
3. One who yammers.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈjæm.ə/

Etymology

From Middle English ȝameren, ȝaumeren, yemeren, ȝomeren, from Old English ġeōmrian (“to lament”), from Proto-West Germanic *jāmarōn, from Proto-Germanic *jēmarōną (“to show misery or sadness”), from Proto-Germanic *jēmaraz (“miserable, sorrowful, sad”), from Proto-Indo-European *yem- (“to hold, match, defeat”). Reinforced by cognate Middle Dutch jammeren (modern Dutch jammeren), from the same ultimate origin. Cognate also with Scots yammer, Saterland Frisian jammerje, West Frisian jammerje, German Low German jammern, German jammern, Danish jamre, Norwegian jamre. Compare also Old Norse amra (“to howl, wail, yammer”).