gossip

Where does the word "gossip" come from? It comes from Old English godsibb, passing through Middle English before entering English (1560s).

Gossip’s story begins in Old English: godsibb meant “godparent.” God + sibb 'relative' (as in 'sibling'): a godparent, spiritually related through baptism. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as gossib. A close friend, especially the women friends invited to attend a birth. It reached English by 1560s as gossip. Became a person who delights in idle talk by the 1560s, and by 1811 the talk itself. Today, gossip means casual talk about other people's private affairs.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · medieval godsibb "godparent", god + sibb 'relative' (as in 'sibling'): a godparent, spiritually related through baptism.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s gossib "close friend", a close friend, especially the women friends invited to attend a birth.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1560s gossip "idle talk; rumour", became a person who delights in idle talk by the 1560s, and by 1811 the talk itself.