confab

noun

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, informal, uncountable)Clipping of confabulation (“a casual chat or talk”).

   “But, Sir, as I am in haſte, we had better refer the Diſpute at preſent—any other Time I am at your Service for a Confab of a few Hours—I ſhall run thro' my Buſineſs with as brief Prolixity as poſſible— [...]”

   “[January 4, 1810.] [...] At six to la Baronne Knebel, chez lui Princess Caroline. Tea and cheerful confab.”

   “Some confab followed, and I overheard enough to tell me that a scouting party had come in, bringing a prisoner.”

   “The delegates must, of course, hold endless private confabs before they meet in order to take any formal action.”

   “A few unexpected nerves took over as we waited to board the São Paulo plane. Phone calls and confabs behind the scenes between officials holding the pile of passports had us worried.”

verb

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, informal, intransitive)Clipping of confabulate (“to speak casually with somebody; to chat”).

   “[T]o mak conquests o' bits o' lasses, ye would hae been sitting in your forlorn chair, confabbing wi' Jock, about whether by rope, or gun, was the easiest way o' deeing.”

   “He had actually argued and "confabbed" with a strange jeweller, and he had asked him questions about his wife; his delicate little Hélène!”

   “We had a cold supper, and then Bill and me walked out on the prairie, to confab a little about what was ahead.”