α. 1500s twyte.
β. 1600s– twit.
twitn.1
/twɪt/, U.S. /twɪt/ 1. † b. English regional (midlands and East Anglian). A fit of temper or irritability. Obsolete.
a. A criticism or reproach, esp. one made in a good-humoured or teasing way; a taunt, a jibe. Cf. twit v. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > reproach > [noun] > instance of
upbraida1200
parablec1350
abraid?a1439
taunt?1499
tench1513
touch1522
exprobration1526
checka1529
twit1528
upbray1590
reproach1611
upcast1669
slow clap1937
1528 in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) I. App. xvii. 38 Which bookes the sayd Frear dyd litle regard, and made a twyte of it.
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 107 O twyte vntrew, and taill vnsicker.
1664 G. Etherege Comical Revenge v. v. 89 Upon condition that there be no twits of the good man Departed.
1847 L. Hunt Men, Women, & Bks. II. x. 224 An occasional twit at him for disappointing her.
1908 N.Y. Times 7 Oct. 4/7 If that's a twit at me..I will tell you I am something of a Westerner myself.
2002 P. Muldoon Moy Sand & Gravel 13 He..Knew he'd have to surmount The twits and taunts Of the stable lad.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill humour > [noun] > fit of
gloominga1400
terret1515
momurdotesc1540
the sullens1580
pirr1581
pet1590
snuff1592
mulligrubs1599
mumps1599
geea1605
mood1609
miff1623
tetch1623
frumps1671
strunt1721
hump1727
tiff1727
tift1751
huff1757
tig1773
tout1787
sulk1792
twita1825
fantigue1825
fuff1834
grumps1844
spell1856
the grumbles1861
grouch1895
snit1939
mardy1968
moody1969
strop1970
sull1972
cream puff1985
mard1998
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Twit, a fit of hasty ill-humour; snappishness.
2.
a. A person who spreads rumour or gossip, or who reports others' wrongdoings; a telltale. Cf. twit v. 2. Now rare (chiefly English regional in later use).In quot. 1720 probably more generally: a person given to foolish or inconsequential talk; a chatterer.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > reproach > [noun] > one who reproaches
braider1552
taunter1552
upbraidera1637
twit1720
reproachera1832
1720 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth VI. 241 A silly, peevish Twit.
1834 Ellen Carrol ii. 27 They have been calling you a tell-tale, a twit, and all such names.
1872 P. H. Chavasse Aphorisms Mental Culture & Training of Child 234 There is something low and mean in a child being ‘a twit’.
1896 G. F. Northall Warwickshire Word-bk. (at cited word) ‘You are a twit’.
1905 G. Ostler in Eng. Dial. Dict. VI. 289/1 [Oxfordshire] You're a nasty little twit; I heard what you said.
1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren x. 189 There are dialect names for him [sc. the telltale]... They sneer..in Birmingham at a ‘twit’.
b. colloquial (originally and chiefly British). A stupid, silly, or annoying person; a fool, an idiot.Now the usual sense.See also upper-class twit n. at upper adj. Additions.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > foolish person, fool > [noun] > of small significance
dud1721
lightweight1831
tit1881
mess1891
schmuck1892
schmendrick1897
Little Willie1901
schlepper1901
wally1922
klutz1925
twerp1925
twit1934
jerk1935
schmo1937
shmegegge1937
schlep1939
sad sack1943
no-hoper1944
Joe Schmo1947
jerko1949
nerk1955
prat1955
schmucko1959
Herbert1960
1934 E. Linklater Magnus Merriman xvi. 178 He was..a false hero who flaunted himself in fine colours when he was drunk and dwindled to a shabby twit when sober.
1960 F. Raphael Limits of Love i. iii. 34 Don't be a twit, Sid.
1977 C. McCullough Thorn Birds xviii. 467 There's no need to get so worked up about it, you twit.
2006 Independent 19 Apr. (Property section) 25/3 Estate agents are such twits. It's a relief to have one who knows their arse from their elbow.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
twitn.3
/twɪt/, U.S. /twɪt/, Scottish English /twɪt/ Weaving. Chiefly Scottish and English regional (northern). Now rare.
A defect or entanglement in yarn or thread, which hinders the process of spinning or weaving. Cf. twitter n.2 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > defect or irregularity in
noba1398
twitter1639
twit1819
slub1825
snick1875
ballooning1904
1819 J. Thomson Poems Sc. Dial. (new ed.) 27 Is't a cursed wab o' yarn That winna work, for knots and twits?
1884 W. S. B. McLaren Spinning Woollen & Worsted (ed. 2) vii. 131 What is lost to the spinning properties of the wool by breaking the long fibres is gained in freedom from twits.
1904 Fibre & Fabric 16 July 271/1 Because we fail to see twits in the coarser thread, it is no sign that they are not present.
1987 E. Oxtoby Spun Yarn Technol. xi. 116/2 A rapid increase in yarn irregularity..is accompanied by the appearance of ‘twits’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
twitn.4
/twɪt/, U.S. /twɪt/ Now chiefly U.S.
A state of nervous excitement or agitation; = twitter n.3 1a. Usually in in a twit.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > apprehension > [noun] > state of trepidation
flighta1535
trepidation1625
twitter1653
trepidity1721
twitteration1775
trepidancy1840
twit1891
swivet1892
flat spin1917
1891 D. Jordan & J. A. Owen Ann. Fishing Village xv. 156 It is the cock-bird at a little distance off, all in a twit and a quiver, dreadfully anxious to be off, yet fearful to leave.
1895 Month Sept. 36 Hewit was all in a twit an a quiver like, hoping agin hope as father and son might yit make it up.
1937 M. Mitchell Let. 28 June in Gone with Wind Lett. (1986) 154 We are in a twit about your visit and will be glad to know when to expect you.
1951 F. van W. Mason Proud New Flags xxiv. 29 Old Mrs. Seymour had been all of a twit because it was seldom indeed that Captain Felix took more than a single julep or glass of wine before the midday meal.
2018 @JimmytheBaptist 5 Oct. in twitter.com (O.E.D. Archive) The issues people (right and left) get in a twit about in the USA are nothing compared to what people in other countries deal with on a daily basis.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
twitv.
/twɪt/, U.S. /twɪt/α. 1500s twhite, 1500s twhyte, 1500s twyte (past participle), 1500s–1600s twight, 1500s–1600s twyte, 1500s–1600s (1900s– English regional (south-western) and Newfoundland) twite.
β. 1500s–1600s twit (past participle), 1500s–1600s twytt, 1500s– twit, 1600s twitt (past tense), 1600s–1700s twitt.
1. † c. transitive. With it. To express (something) tauntingly; to utter (a taunt or reproach). Obsolete. rare.
a. To censure, reproach, or upbraid (a person), esp. in a good-humoured or teasing way; to find fault with, to blame; to taunt.
(a) transitive. Without complement expressing the criticized action, fault, etc. Also occasionally intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > reproach > [verb (transitive)]
edwitec825
shendc897
lehtriec1000
atwiteOE
gaba1200
begredec1200
tucka1225
reprove?1316
braidc1325
abraidc1330
upbraida1340
reprocec1350
reprucec1350
umbraida1393
reproacha1400
brixlec1400
saya1470
embraid1481
outbraid1509
check1526
twit1530
entwite1541
broide1546
taunt1560
upbray1581
improperate1623
betwit1661
to jack up1896
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 764/2 I twhyte one, I caste hym in the tethe or in the nose, je luy reprouche. This terme is also northren.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) ii. iii. sig. D.j No man for despite, By worde or by write His felowe to twite.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iii. i. 178 Doth he not twit our soueraigne Lady here, As if that she had sobornde or hired some to sweare against his life.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 22) 1080 An Egyptian Priest thus twitted Solon: You Grecians are ever children.
1669 S. Lee Contempl. Mortality 33 A feather cap fool..that will..twit the miser, when he sees his chests all lined with gold.
1735 Groan from True Blue Presbyterian 20 He twitted them severely thus, ‘Fat a Man is that ye call the Presbytery?’
1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate I. viii. 193 Anything would be better than being twitted in this way. How can I help it that I am not a man and able to work for my bread?
1964 K. Hanson Rebels in Streets x. 177 She teased and twitted and interrupted and broke up the session several times with her jokes and wisecracks.
2001 M. Azerrad Our Band could be your Life i. 22 The band made a hilariously provocative series of radio ads to promote their shows, twitting the LAPD mercilessly.
(b) transitive. With prepositional phrase expressing the criticized action, fault, etc.
ΚΠ
1543 G. Joye Unite & Scisme Olde Chirche sig. C.iv Owre father..beinge nowe apeaced with vs onelye for Christes sake..neuer to impute nor twite vs by owr sinnes.
1563 T. Harding Answer to Iuelles Chalenge (1565) 6 The woont of some feastemakers, who of their neighbours twited with nyggardnes [etc.].
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. ix. 186 Hannah though silent when twitted by Peninnah of barrenness, found her tongue when..taxed by Eli of drunkenness.
1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity vi. 19 Twitting them..for their Idolatry.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1775 I. 515 He was twitted by Mrs. Thrale for being very late.
1852 H. Melville Pierre xviii. 356 Some imaginatively heterodoxical men are often surprisingly twitted upon their willful inverting of all common-sense notions.
1877 J. G. Whittier in S. T. Pickard Life & Lett. J. G. Whittier (1894) II. 635 It is bad enough to be old, without being twitted of it.
1882 A. G. L'Estrange Friendships M. R. Mitford I. vii. 176 She was sometimes twitted about partialities for her cousin.
1953 N.Z. Parl. Deb. 299 661/2 The Minister expressed some natural anxiety..as to whether we would twit him on his change of heart.
1992 A. Gray Poor Things (1993) xxiv. 240 When my friends in the Glasgow Arts Club twit me with my wife's greater fame I have a ready reply.
(c) transitive. With that-clause (formerly also †infinitive) expressing the criticized action, fault, etc.
ΚΠ
1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Job xxxiiii. 636/1 If wee meane to twit a man that he is a foole, we will say thou knowest not what thou sayest.
1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. M4v, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) To twit him, That hee had like to haue knockte his head against the gallowes.
?1606 M. Drayton Eglog ii, in Poemes sig. D Nor twit me so my senses to haue loste.
1613 T. Adams Heauen & Earth Reconcil'd 22 Shall they twit vs, that our, Our Father, hath taken from the Church, what their Pater-noster bestowed one it?
1753 tr. Erasmus Apophthegms of Ancients II. vi. 141 Cassius, at another time, being twitted, that Proculeius had forbid him his house, answered, ‘Do I ever go there?’
1854 Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 132 965 They had been twitted that evening that they could not possibly give a sound vote in company with the hon. Member for North Warwickshire.
1880 M. Holley My Wayward Pardner 97 He..twitted him that if it wasn't for his wife he could make jest as much [money].
1905 Commonw. Austral. Parl. Deb. 26 2067/1 When I interjected about the increase of population in Western Australia, I was twitted that the new colonists had come from South Australia.
2009 Re: First Time to Church in uk.religion.christian (Usenet newsgroup) 26 Sept. Certain unkind persons twitted him that he had such strong faith in God, yet not only was he going to be burned, but God had allowed him to suffer a broken leg.
b. transitive. To express disapproval of (an action, type of conduct, etc.), esp. in a good-humoured or teasing way; to criticize, censure; to ridicule. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > dispraise or discommendation > dispraise or discommend [verb (transitive)] > censure or condemn
bidemea1200
convictc1366
reprovea1382
damnc1386
condemna1400
deema1400
saya1400
judgec1400
reprehendc1400
reproacha1475
reprobate?a1475
arguec1475
controlc1525
twit1543
perstringe1549
tax1569
traduce1581
carp1591
censure1605
convince?1606
syndic1609
syndicate1610
to check at1642
reprimand1660
impeach1813
to stroke over1822
1543 T. Chaloner tr. G. Cousin Office of Seruauntes sig. B.viiiv If oughte be mysdone, thone wyl twyte the fault in the other.
c1571 E. Campion Two Bks. Hist. Ireland (1963) ii. viii. 115 Thus was Perkins brag thwited [1633 twighted].
1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier To Rdrs. sig. A4 Though he speakes againste Veluet breeches.., yet hee twits not the weede but the vice.
1673 E. Hickeringill Gregory 214 Endeavouring to foyl and always twitting a good cause.
1675 tr. W. Camden Hist. Princess Elizabeth (rev. ed.) i. 84 Others..twitted the Authority of the Queen's Majesty too much.
1706 15 Comforts Cuckoldom 6 I Twitted then my Wife's Hypocrisie.
1876 J. Weiss Wit, Humor, & Shakespeare iii. 87 The clown..remembers how the steward used to twit Olivia's contentment at his sallies.
2015 Sunday Times 27 Sept. (Culture section) 24/3 He now hops recklessly towards the storm, twitting religion, teasing about his sexuality and goading a bigamist countess.
ΚΠ
1596 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent (rev. ed.) 305 This Archbishop..suffered the King to hold his stirup twise in one day in Normandie, but in Pratoproditorum, as Mathew Parise very pretily twiteth it.
1673 E. Hickeringill Gregory 24 To twit it home as wittily and effectually as he can.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > rumour > [verb (intransitive)] > bear tales or rumours
talea1225
tittlec1400
twittle1551
tattle1581
clavera1605
gossip1627
twita1643
clasha1689
fetch-and-carry1770
clype1843
clatfart1913
tattle-tale1918
labrish1935
a1643 [implied in: W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) iv. iv. 68 D'y' think I would undo me self by twitting?.. I'm faithfull, And secret, though a Barber. (at twitting n. 2)].
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 364 ‘If he knows he'll twit’.
1905 G. Ostler in Eng. Dial. Dict. VI. 289/1 [Oxfordshire] I shall remember you; you have been twitting about me again.
Phrases
† to twit (a person) in the teeth: to censure, reproach, or upbraid (a person); to tease, to taunt. Cf. tooth n. Phrases 1d. Obsolete.Frequently with prepositional phrase expressing the criticized action, fault, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > reproach > [verb (transitive)] > reproach with
upbraida1250
undernimc1320
to lay to one's credit, reproachc1515
to cast (a thing) in one's teeth1526
to twit (a person) in the teeth1530
to hit (one) in the teeth with1535
to cast (also lay, throw) (something) in one's dish1551
to fling (anything) in one's teeth1587
to throw (thrust, fling, (etc.)) (something) in a person's face1597
to tit (a person) in the teeth1622
nose1625
exprobrate1630
puta1663
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 646/1 I onbrayde, I twite or cast in the tethe, Je reprouche.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 500 In his youth he was faine to hyer an other mans house,..at a small rent, as afterwards he was twitted in the teeth withall.
1614 J. Day Dyall Ep. Ded. sig. ¶3v Caius of Cambridge did twit vs in the teeth with some of our Founders here in Oxford that had beene themselues Cambridge Men.
1651 in T. Fuller Abel Redevivus 185 They twitted him in the teeth with Heresie.
1729 J. Gay Let. 9 Nov. in J. Swift Lett. (1766) II. 103 You have often twitted me in the teeth for hankering after the court.
1780 Miss Palmer Female Stability IV. 69 He..never failed to twit me in the teeth of my foolish promises.
1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi II. iv. i. 79 They twit me in the teeth, because I cannot say who my father and mother were.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
twitint.n.2
/twɪt/, U.S. /twɪt/ A. int.
Representing a brief high-pitched sound or call made by a small bird, or a sound similar to or imitating this. Cf. tweet int.Frequently reduplicated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > sound or bird defined by > [noun] > twitter or chirp
chattera1250
twit1602
twitter1709
twit1769
chirrup1830
churr1837
tweet1837
chipper1844
chirp1850
chitter1869
the world > animals > birds > sound or bird defined by > [interjection] > imitation of call of bird
cockc1405
jug, jug1523
pewewea1525
te-whita1529
twit1602
sweet-sweet1606
weet-weet1808
weet1863
whee-oh1892
spink1898
tweet1992
1602 T. Dekker Blurt Master-Constable sig. F3 Not a bird does sing: But the Nightingale, and she cries twit, twit, twit, twit.
1726 J. Barker Lining of Patch-work Screen 175 Hereupon there were a Choir of pretty Creatures in form of Grasshoppers... These answer'd the Bard in Chorus, twit, twit, twit, twit, twit.
1824 Time's Telescope for 1823 (ed. 2) 330 The leading bird [sc. a titmouse] utters a shrill call (twit, twit, twit).
1877 Young Folk's Weekly Budget 3 Feb. 70/2 ‘Twit, twit,’ cried the Sparrow, angrily.
1922 T. S. Eliot Waste Land (1923) iii. 15 Twit twit twit Jug jug jug jug jug jug So rudely forc'd. Tereu.
1983 A. F. Skutch Nature through Trop. Windows iii. 67 Blackbill [i.e. a wren]..followed her mother through the dooryard, quivering her wings and calling twit twit twit twit.
2005 Manila Times (Nexis) 6 Aug. As you follow a bird out there, say ‘twit, twit, twit!’
B. n.2
A brief high-pitched sound or call made by a small bird. Cf. tweet n. 1.Also reduplicated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > sound or bird defined by > [noun] > twitter or chirp
chattera1250
twit1602
twitter1709
twit1769
chirrup1830
churr1837
tweet1837
chipper1844
chirp1850
chitter1869
1769 Summer-day iii. 102 Nor, in the meads the little quails can cease The frequent twit, lest their poor younglings stray.
1820 J. Clare Poems Rural Life (ed. 3) 147 The flap of a leaf, and the twit of a bird.
1845 W. Adam Gem of Peak (ed. 4) ii. v. 186 Their silence is only relieved by the twit of the wren and the song of the robin.
1885 R. Humphreys Grandmother's Tales 107 I..was nearly asleep, when I heard a ‘Twit! twit!’. I opened my eyes and saw a bird on the ground.
1936 Auk 53 16 It [sc. the Hepburn's Rosy Finch] utters..a pleasant ‘twit-twit’ on sunny mornings.
2003 Seattle Area Bird Newbie is Hooked! in rec.birds (Usenet newsgroup) 30 Aug. You can hear them [sc. bushtits] coming, and then suddenly, a cacaphony [sic] of high-pitched twits and the Horde is upon you!
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.11528n.31819
n.41891v.1530int.n.21602