Meaning

noun light informal conversation for social occasions

noun a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people

noun a person given to gossiping and divulging personal information about others

originFrom Middle English godsybbe, godsib (“a close friend or relation, a confidant; a godparent”), from Old English godsibb (“godparent, sponsor”), equivalent to god + sib. Doublet of godsib. For sense evolution to "gossip, discussing others' personal affairs," compare French commérage.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0