Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To talk idly or foolishly. Also spelled havrel, havril.
  • noun One who talks foolishly or idly; a silly chattering person.
  • Silly; half-witted.
  • Also spelled havrel, haveril.

Etymologies

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Examples

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  • I reside in the city of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Lately I have been learning a lot about the origin of this name. A little over a week ago the Word of the Day was haverbread (see comments there), and today’s WotD, haverel, is a near homonym of the city name. The name of the city is pronounced in these parts as a two syllable word to rhyme with “cave thrill,” whereas the middle syllable in “haverel” gets some slight acknowledgment. I learned haver can mean oats/oatmeal or to talk foolishly. I have seen little of the former locally and find the latter no more abundant here than elsewhere. Of course, the American city is named after an English town. If anyone can testify to that town’s reputation for either oats or foolishness I would be glad to read it.

    In these troubled times the braver will

    Indulge in expressions most flavorful.

    A colorful word

    Is more likely heard

    When discourse is noisy and haverel.

    December 3, 2017