natter

To natter is to talk at length about unimportant things. When you feel a little awkward and uncomfortable at a party, you might natter to the one person you know there for far too long.

To natter is to chatter or blather or jabber — you don't natter about serious or deep topics. If you gossip with your neighbor for a few minutes, you can say that you natter. And, if you chat with your best friend on the phone in a lighthearted way, you also natter. Natter comes from the northern England dialect gnatter, "chatter," and also "grumble." Earlier, it meant, "nibble away."