balbūtĭo (-uttio), īre, v. n. and a. [balbus].
I Neutr. , to stammer , stutter : balbutire est cum quādam linguae haesitatione et confusione trepidare, Non. p. 80, 13; Cels. 5, 26, 31: lingua, Cod. 15, 6, 22. —Transf., of birds, not to sing clearly : merula hieme balbutit, Plin. 10, 29, 42, § 80. —
B Trop., to speak upon something obscurely , not distinctly or not correctly : desinant balbutire (Academici), aperteque et clarā voce audeant dicere, Cic. Tusc. 5, 26, 75; id. Div. 1, 3, 5.—
II Act. , to stutter , stammer , or lisp out something : illum Balbutit Scaurum pravis fultum male talis, he , lisping or fondling , calls him Scaurus , Hor. S. 1, 3, 48.—Trop., as above: Stoicus perpauca balbutiens, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 45, 137.