ditty

[dit-ee]

noun

plural

ditties 

1. a poem intended to be sung.

2. a short, simple song.

verb (used without object)

dittied, dittying 

1. Obsolete.,  to sing.

verb (used with object)

dittied, dittying 

1. Obsolete.,  to set to or celebrate in music.

ditty

/ ˈdɪtɪ /

noun

1. a short simple song or poem

Word History and Origins

Origin of ditty¹

1250–1300; Middle English dite < Anglo-French, Old French dit ( i ) e poem, noun use of past participle of ditier to compose < Latin dictāre; dictate

Word History and Origins

Origin of ditty¹

C13: from Old French ditie poem, from ditier to compose, from Latin dictāre _dictate

Example Sentences

The tune for this ditty was suspiciously like a tune from Pirates on Holiday, the nautical operetta whose first act Penelope and the children had witnessed while visiting London some months earlier.

Read more on Literature

The song evokes the same reassuring warmth generated by that indelible “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” ditty “It’s You I Like,” especially as reinterpreted by Sherie Rene Scott in her 2010 Broadway show “Everyday Rapture.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A lovely chamber-folk ditty about two lovers keeping painful track of each other long after the end of their toxic romance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The song opened on cue with a “little ditty about Jack and Diane,” but then the music abruptly stopped.

Read more on New York Times

The music was Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice,” a weird little ditty that did make you want to dance.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• ballad 
• jingle 
• tune