ramble

Meanings

1. A leisurely stroll; a recreational walk in the countryside.
2. A rambling; an instance of someone talking at length without direction.
3. A bed of shale over the seam of coal.
4. A section of woodland suitable for leisurely walking.

1. To move about aimlessly, or on a winding course.
2. To walk for pleasure; to amble or saunter.
3. To lead the life of a vagabond or itinerant; to move about with no fixed place of address.
4. To talk or write incessantly, unclearly, or incoherently, with many digressions.
5. To follow a winding path or course.

Etymology

An altered form (with dissimilation of mm to mb) of dialectal rammle, from Middle English *ramlen, *ramelen, frequentative of Middle English ramen (“to roam, ramble”); compare Swedish ramla (“to stumble; fall; make a noise; rumble”), Danish ramle (“to stumble; collapse; thunder; boom”); equivalent to roam + -le. "mid-15 c., perhaps frequentative of 'romen' 'to walk, go' perhaps via 'romblen' (late 14 c.) 'to ramble.' The vowel change perhaps by influence of Middle Dutch 'rammelen,' a derivative of 'rammen' 'copulate,' 'used of the night wanderings of the amorous cat.' Meaning 'to talk or write incoherently' is from 1630s".