köken: Attested since at least 1838, originally to denote the incomprehensible talk of Auvergnats. The further etymology is uncertain. It's believed to possibly mimick a perceived Auvergnat pronunciation of /s/ as /ʃ/. Others theorize it's derived from Occitan charrar (“to chatter”), or Franco-Provençal charabarat (horse market). A borrowing from Spanish algarabía has been theorized but deemed less…
Qu'est-ce que c'est que ce charabia?
Qu'est-ce que c'est que ce charabia, ô Vicévertus, médecin-chef de mes armées ?