† tittern.1
Obsolete. rare.
A kind of weed found in cornfields (perhaps a vetch or tare).Cf. tine-tare (tintare, tyntare) at tine n.4 b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > valued plants and weeds > [noun] > weed > tare(s)
zizanya1400
taresa1425
titter1573
furrow-weed1608
zizania1756
walder1764
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 48 From wheat go & rake out, the titters or tine, if eare be not forth, it will rise againe fine.
1580 T. Tusser Fiue Hundred Pointes Good Husbandrie (new ed.) f. 45v The titters or tine, makes hop to pine.
1643 J. Brinsley Church Reformation i. 7 In the Floore there is a mixture; Straw as well as Corne, Chaffe as well as Wheate, Tares and Titters, and Cockle and Darnill, as well as the good graine.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2019).
tittern.2
/ˈtɪtə/, U.S. /ˈtɪdər/ 1. A short, somewhat suppressed laugh; a giggle. Also: laughter of this kind.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > [noun] > giggling or tittering > instance of
tee-hee1593
gigglea1677
twitter1700
titter1725
1725 D. Defoe Everybody's Business 15 I was soon undeceiv'd by a general Titter, that gave me the utmost Confusion.
1777 F. Burney Let. 7 Apr. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1990) II. 243 He kept a continual titter among the young Ladies.
1820 Kirby's Wonderful & Eccentric Museum 5 7 Laughter convulsed the house, and made it sometimes impossible for the love-sick maid herself..to forbear from a smile and a titter.
1874 F. C. Burnand My Time xvii. 144 Irrepressible titters among those of the audience most remote from the stage.
1946 Liberty 15 June 33/2 I tried to shush her, but it was no good. Several rows of people had heard her and there was a stifled titter.
1989 Yankee Nov. 24/1 The first time citizens learned about the rare geological find in their little town, there were titters of laughter and sighs of disbelief.
2005 M. H. Smith Delicious vi. 57 She immediately heard titters from her class of ninth-graders.
2. A sound resembling that of such laughter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [noun] > rustling
whisping1379
rustlinga1387
flushinga1398
ruffling1440
stichling?1553
brustling1589
rustle1624
rash1671
titter1853
fidget1860
gush1866
reesle1866
frou-frou1870
silking1871
1853 W. C. Bryant Poems (new ed.) 174 There's a titter of winds in that beechen-tree.
1905 W. D. Howells Miss Bellard's Inspiration xiv. 208 He was roused by the titter of the electric door-bell.
1956 N. Algren Walk on Wild Side ii. 169 The little ginhead's demented skip-and-hop step was lost in the brainless titter of the rain.
1989 Washington Post 16 Apr. (Travel section) e1/1 This normally placid corner of south-west London resounds to the thwack of tennis balls and the titter of applause.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
tittern.3
/ˈtɪtə/, U.S. /ˈtɪdər/ slang. Now historical and rare.
A girl; a young woman.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [noun]
daughterOE
maidenOE
young womanOE
mayc1175
burdc1225
maidc1275
wenchc1290
file1303
virginc1330
girla1375
damselc1380
young ladya1393
jilla1425
juvenclec1430
young person1438
domicellea1464
quean1488
trull1525
pulleta1533
Tib1533
kittyc1560
dell1567
gillian1573
nymph1584
winklota1586
frotion1587
yuffrouw1589
pigeon1592
tit1599
nannicock1600
muggle1608
gixy1611
infanta1611
dilla1627
tittiea1628
whimsy1631
ladykin1632
stammel1639
moggie1648
zitellaa1660
baggagea1668
miss1668
baby1684
burdie1718
demoiselle1720
queanie?1800
intombi1809
muchacha1811
jilt1816
titter1819
ragazza1827
gouge1828
craft1829
meisie1838
sheila1839
sixteenc1840
chica1843
femme1846
muffin1854
gel1857
quail1859
kitten1870
bud1880
fräulein1883
sub-debutante1887
sweet-and-twenty1887
flapper1888
jelly1889
queen1894
chick1899
pusher1902
bit of fluff1903
chicklet1905
twist and twirl1905
twist1906
head1913
sub-deb1916
tabby1916
mouse1917
tittie1918
chickie1919
wren1920
bim1922
nifty1923
quiff1923
wimp1923
bride1924
job1927
junior miss1927
hag1932
tab1932
sort1933
palone1934
brush1941
knitting1943
teenybopper1966
weeny-bopper1972
Valley Girl1982
1819 J. H. Vaux New Vocab. Flash Lang. in Memoirs II. 219 Titter, a young woman or girl.
1845 E. J. Wakefield Adventure in N.Z. I. xi. 319 A chief was called [by whalers] a ‘nob’; a slave, a ‘doctor’; a woman, a ‘heifer’; a girl, a ‘titter’.
1890 in A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang II. 356/2 Only a glass of bitter! Only a sandwich mild! Only a stupid titter! Only she's not a child!
1953 Landfall (N.Z.) Sept. 179 Boys, she's a larky little titter.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
titterv.1
/ˈtɪtə/, U.S. /ˈtɪdər/ 1. intransitive. To move unsteadily, as if about to fall; to totter, reel; to sway to and fro. Cf. teeter v. 1b. Now regional.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > move unsteadily [verb (intransitive)] > totter
shake1297
waive1338
wagc1340
falterc1386
waverc1440
branglea1522
totterc1522
wave1538
swerve1573
nod1582
tittera1618
cockle1634
labascate1727
teeter1904
oversway1994
a1618 W. Raleigh Seat of Govt. in Sceptick (1651) 60 So would the other [i.e. Kings' Crowns] easily tytter were they not fastened on their heads, with the strong chains of Civil Justice, and Martial Discipline.
1644 G. Plattes in S. Hartlib Legacy (1655) 198 Then the floor of the sellar will rise up, and tetter and swim like a bog-mire.
1798 Anti-Jacobin 16 Apr. 181/1 Fair Sylphish forms..Wave the gay wreath, and titter as they prance.
1839 H. Lane Wandering Boy 23 The lee guns would titter along on the top of the water.
1905 Eng. Dial. Dict. VI. 168/1 [Worcs.] Take care, the table titters.
1974 W. Leeds Herefordshire Speech 101 Titter, to swing slightly on one's feet.
2018 @AfafAlshawa 14 May in twitter.com (O.E.D. Archive) It's like a catastrophe tittering on the edge, waiting to happen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > oscillate [verb (intransitive)] > see-saw
see-saw1712
tittera1825
titter-tottera1825
tilter1825
teeter1843
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Titter, to ride on each end of a balanced plank. Otherwise ‘titter-cum-totter’.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 347 Titter, to ride on a balanced plank.
1887 F. T. Havergal Herefordshire Words 35/1 Titter, to be shaken up and down as on the bough of a tree.
3. intransitive. Scottish (Orkney and Shetland). To shiver, to tremble.In quot. 1929: (of the teeth) to chatter.
ΚΠ
1866 T. Edmondston Etymol. Gloss. Shetland & Orkney Dial. 129 Titter, to shiver, to tremble.
1929 in A. W. Johnston & A. Johnston Old-lore Misc. IX. ii. 78 He waas piverin' a' ower, 'is teeth waar titteran.
1988 G. Lamb Orkney Wordbk. Titter, to shiver with cold or fear.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
titterv.2
/ˈtɪtə/, U.S. /ˈtɪdər/ 1. intransitive. To laugh in a somewhat suppressed or restrained way, often through nervousness or in ridicule; to giggle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > laugh in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > giggle
giggle1509
teehee1580
tittera1625
twitter1654
whickera1656
a1625 J. Fletcher Wit without Money (1639) iv. sig. F3v I could so titter now and laugh.
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Little French Lawyer iv. in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. K2v/1 You titter As eagerly as she.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xix. 157 She went away tittering.
1789 A. Young Jrnl. 22 June in Trav. France (1792) i. 117 I observed him several times playing off that small sort of wit, and flippant readiness to titter, which, I suppose, is a part of his character.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxvii. 263 Upon which Mrs. Nickleby tittered, and Sir Mulberry laughed, and Pyke and Pluck roared.
1864 C. Knight Passages Working Life I. v. 221 The young women tittered when the old clerk indulged in his established joke.
1938 Musical Times May 346/2 All the onlookers, who titter and imitate his languishing gait.
1981 I. McEwan Comfort of Strangers (1983) vii. 78 The earnest conversation of the other guests made them titter like schoolchildren.
2008 Church Times 14 Nov. 18/1 I titter at Mika's campery.
2. transitive. To utter (something) with suppressed laughter. Usually with direct speech as object.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > with a sneer, laugh, etc.
laugheOE
simper1567
sneer1693
titter1787
chuckle out1820
snigger1857
sniff1859
smile1860
smirk1879
1787 Minor (Dublin ed.) I. viii. 28 No, it shall never be tittered about as at the last races.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby ix. 84 ‘Never mind me,’ tittered Miss Squeers.
1860 Harper's Mag. Aug. 363/1 Mr. Burt at last titters ‘Good-evening’, and then Miss Morris titters ‘Good-evening.’
1951 M. Kennedy Lucy Carmichael vii. iii. 368 ‘He, he, he!’ tittered the Pierrette to the Regency Buck.
1992 Empire Apr. 68/2 ‘Hee hee,’ titters Almodóvar.
2004 Daily Tel. 24 Feb. 15/1 ‘It's for you,’ my husband yelled from the telephone in the hall. ‘The police.’ ‘Ooh,’ I tittered in the kitchen.
Derivatives
titteˈration n. rare tittering.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > [noun] > giggling or tittering
teeheeing?a1300
giggling?1518
tittering1637
twittering1654
titteration1753
gigglement1820
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison V. xliii. 276 The holding up of a straw will throw me into titteration [1766 a titteration].
1874 T. De W. Talmage Around Tea-table xxxii. 210 The titteration in the gallery.
2010 @JFDerry 14 Sept. in twitter.com (O.E.D. Archive) Mr May is sending me his book for review (LOL) - i can forward it to you for similar titteration.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
titteradv.
/ˈtɪtə/, U.S. /ˈtɪdər/α. Middle English titer, Middle English titere, Middle English titter, Middle English tittire, Middle English tyter, Middle English tyttar, Middle English tytter; English regional (northern) 1600s– titter, 1800s teyther (Yorkshire), 1800s titer, 1800s tither (Yorkshire), 1800s–1900s titterest (superlative), 1900s t'itter, 1900s tit'r, 1900s titt'r, 1900s titther (Yorkshire), 1900s titterer (comparative, rare); Scottish pre-1700 titar, pre-1700 tittar, pre-1700 titur, pre-1700 tytar, pre-1700 tytare, pre-1700 tyttar, pre-1700 1700s titter, 1800s tita.
β. English regional (northern) 1600s–1700s tider, 1800s tidder.
γ. English regional (northern) 1800s tighter.
Now rare (Scottish and English regional (northern) after Middle English).
1. More quickly; sooner, earlier; faster.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > [adverb] > soon or quickly > earlier or sooner
would rathereOE
ratherOE
tittera1400
sandera1450
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 22481 Titer sal tai rin on grund Þan firslauht dos quen it es stund.
a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) l. 1852 (MED) Had I noght bene titter boun To tak my palfray bi þe mane, Þe water sone had bene my bane.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. viii. 80 Go, say to hym we wyll not grefe; Bot thay shall neuer the tytter gang.
1673 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 2 Tide in the North signifies soon, and tider or titter sooner. The tider..you come the tider you'll goe.
1685 G. Meriton Praise of York-shire Ale 51 He had come titter..if he had knawn.
?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 26 On if I dunnaw try thee, titter or latter, ittle be o Marvel.
1879 E. Waugh Chimney Corner 8 It brings 'em down, titter or latter,—as how strung they are.
1898 B. Kirkby Lakeland Words 147 Thoo'll gang titter if thoo gangs bi thisel.
1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 142/2 ‘He wad be there titter than thoo.’..‘Theease pays (peas) comes titter tae onny ithers Ah kens.’
1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey Wodds & Doggerybaw: Lincs. Dial. Dict. 314/2 A c'n goo titter'n 'im.
2. More readily, more willingly; rather.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > [adverb] > in preference to something else
ratherc1300
heldera1400
tittera1400
ererc1425
soon1457
rathest1556
would rather1557
first1580
preferablya1645
choosingly1651
preferable1683
ruther1809
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 28120 And titter wald i lesyng make, þan man my worde vn-treu to take.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 518 Þai chesyt tyttar with þaim to ta Angyr and payn, na be þaim fra.
1564 in J. E. A. Dawson Campbell Lett. (1997) 82 And ye kep kyndnes ye suld do my gud herand tytare nor my evuil herand.
1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (new ed.) I. 116 I had titter die than live wi' him a Year.
1828 R. Anderson Ballads in Cumberland Dial. 130 Far titter than weer them, She'd burn them or tear them.
1855 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Yorks. Words 179 ‘I would titter go than stay.’
1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 142/2 Ah wad titter gan than stay.
Phrases
English regional (northern). In colloquial and proverbial expressions. P1. titter and better: the sooner the better.
ΚΠ
1703 R. Thoresby List Local Words in J. Ray Philosoph. Lett. (1718) 339 Titter and better.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) II. 289 Brid. As t'weather hez just taan up, we mun lig too't. Giles. Wha, wha, as t'weather hez been seea unsartin, an t'rain hez faun seea mich i' planets, titter and better.
1876 C. C. Robinson Gloss. Words Dial. Mid-Yorks. at Titter ‘Well, titter an' better,’ as t' theaker said by t' dinner.
P2. titter up: the one that is up first or quickest.
a. titter up call and variants: the first one up in the morning should wake the others.
ΚΠ
1787 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (at cited word) Tider up caw, let him that is up first call the others.
1821 A. Wheeler Westmorland Dial. (ed. 3) 112 We set dawn that titter up sud coe tudder up neisht mornin.
1861 E. Waugh Rambles in Lake Country 130 ‘Good night!—but stop; how if one should sleep too long?’ ‘Well then, th' titter co' th' latter up. Good night!’
1911 M. C. F. Morris Yorks. Folk-talk (ed. 2) 390 Titter up ca', i.e. the soonest up in a morning call the rest.
b. titter up the sprunt mun hover a bit and variants: the first one up the hill must wait for the others.
ΚΠ
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) II. 288 Mally war seea slaw o' foote, at I yarks stee off her shooder, an pashes afoar her, an I soon hears her roarin out, ‘titter up't' brant hovver.’
1855 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Yorks. Words 180 ‘T' titter up t' sprunt mun ower [= hover] a bit’: the first up the hill must wait awhile.
1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 143/1 ‘Titter oop t'sproont mun ower a bit’—a very characteristic Cl[eveland]. expression.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.11573
n.21725
n.31819v.1a1618
v.2a1625adv.a1400