[hasmanean]

Because alchemists were afraid of people stealing their recipes. Jabir bin Hayyan (aka Geber) the father of chemistry wrote in his own shorthand which is named after him—-gibberish or jibberish.

So Lead, gold, and quicksilver were not the substances their names suggest. They were codenames. The real processes have never been revealed.

[andrewshadura]

The proposed etymology of gibberish is interesting, but unfortunately untrue :)

[hasmanean]

It was declared untrue in 1818 by Johnson’s dictionary.

But that’s just 1 vote. ;)

[hinkley]

Sort of like how witches weren’t maiming newts for their potions. Eye of newt is mustard seed.

[dcminter]

Unlikely.

https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/1ge48sq/macbeths...