blat

Meanings

Verb

• To cry, as a calf or sheep; bleat.
• To make a senseless noise.
• To talk inconsiderately; blab.
• To produce an overrich or overblown sound on a brass instrument such as a trumpet, trombone, or tuba.
• To utter loudly or foolishly; blurt.

Noun

• The Soviet system of connections and social relationships; one's social or business network .

Origin

• Imitative. First attested in 1846 in the intransitive sense of "bleat". Compare English bleat, Old English blǣtan.
• Borrowed from Russian блат, from Polish blat or Yiddish בלאַט. blade.