motormouth
UK[ˈməʊtəmaʊθ]US[ˈmoʊtərmaʊθ]
n
a person who talks incessantly and often loudly or indiscreetly
Morpheme Breakdown
motor
mouth
motor
mouth
Etymology
The word "motormouth" is a vivid 20th-century American English compound. It creatively combines "motor," implying relentless, machine-like motion, with "mouth," the physical organ of speech. The term paints a metaphorical picture of a person whose speech apparatus operates with the ceaseless, automatic energy of an engine. This blend of mechanical and anatomical imagery perfectly captures the modern abstract meaning of someone who talks rapidly and nonstop, often without control or discretion.
Analysis
Structure: motor + mouth
motor: From Latin motor (mover), from movere (to move). In this compound, it functions as an intensifier, suggesting constant, mechanical, or rapid action.
mouth: From Old English mūþ (opening of the face, speech organ). In this compound, it functions as the core noun, representing the source of speech.
Examples
He's a real motormouth, dominating every conversation without pause.
The radio host was a cheerful motormouth, filling every second of airtime with chatter.
She nervously became a motormouth whenever she was asked about the project.