blat
UK[blæt]US[blæt]
v
To make a loud, harsh cry like a sheep or goat; to bleat.
v
To utter thoughtlessly or indiscreetly; to blurt out.
Etymology
The word 'blat' is a direct echoic or onomatopoeic creation from the mid-19th century, designed to mimic the characteristic harsh, bleating cry of a sheep or goat. This process of forming words to imitate natural sounds is a fundamental and ancient method of word creation across many languages. The semantic extension from simply describing an animal sound to meaning 'to blurt out' speech thoughtlessly is a logical metaphorical shift, comparing indiscreet human utterance to the loud, abrupt, and often repetitive noise made by the animal. Thus, the word's journey is not one of borrowed roots but of direct sound imitation followed by figurative application to human behavior.
Analysis
The word 'blat' is a simplex word. It is an onomatopoeic formation, imitating the sound it describes. Its functional role is as a verb root.
Examples
The lost lamb would blat incessantly until its mother returned.
He couldn't help but blat out the secret before he realized what he was saying.
From the hillside, we could hear the goats blatting to each other across the valley.