tit

[ tit ]

noun

a titmouse.
any of various other small birds.

Archaic. a girl or young woman; hussy.
Archaic. a small or poor horse; nag.

Origin of tit

First recorded in 1540–50; short for titmouse; akin to Old Norse titlingr “sparrow,” Norwegian tite “titmouse”; see also tit²

Other definitions for tit (2 of 5)

tit²

[ tit ]

noun

a teat.
Slang: Vulgar. a breast.

Origin of tit

First recorded before 1100; Middle English, Old English tit(t) “teat, pap, breast”; cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch titte, German Zitze, Norwegian titta; akin to tit¹;see also teat

Other definitions for tit (3 of 5)

tit³

[ tit ]

noun

tit for tat.

Origin of tit

Perhaps variant of tip⁴

Other definitions for tit. (4 of 5)

tit.

abbreviation

title.

Other definitions for Tit. (5 of 5)

Tit.

abbreviationBible.

Titus.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tit in a sentence

We have lots of historical and cross-national examples of tit-for-tat escalation.
Are we entering a new era of political violence? | Sean Illing | January 7, 2021 | Vox
So, if the other program cooperated, then the next time tit-for-tat was like, “Okay, I’m going to cooperate too.”
“We Get All Our Great Stuff from Europe — Including Witch Hunting.” (Ep. 446) | Steven D. Levitt | January 7, 2021 | Freakonomics
Additional industries are hurt by tit-for-tat tariffs imposed by other countries.
What business needs from the 2020 election | Geoffrey Colvin | September 30, 2020 | Fortune
Meanwhile, Democrats have little recourse, except to threaten that they will expand and pack the court with liberal justices should they take power back in 2021, which could create a tit-for-tat cycle that delegitimizes the highest court’s authority.
The Glorious RBG | Tracy Moran | September 20, 2020 | Ozy
The sad part is that it’s unclear what really has been gained by this trade war, where you get into this tit-for-tat, and then the resolution is that you stop elevating, and maybe go back to what it was at square one.
Why Is This Man Running for President? (Ep. 362 Update) | Stephen J. Dubner | December 19, 2019 | Freakonomics

When Pegasus is jaded, and would stand still, he is apt like other Tits to run into every Puddle.
A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage | Jeremy Collier
The Wren-Tits have been revised and their ranges more correctly defined, and to the two forms given two more have been added.
Color Key to North American Birds | Frank M. Chapman
Tits hang to the suet bags, and a general assembly flock to the cornsheaf.
Poachers and Poaching | John Watson
Tits are also to be seen in family parties, as are also Jays, Magpies, and Starlings.
Among the Birds in Northern Shires | Charles Dixon
The Bush-Tits of this group may be known by their brownish crown.
Bird-Lore March-April 1916 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for tit (1 of 3)

tit¹

/ (tɪt) /

noun

any of numerous small active Old World songbirds of the family Paridae (titmice), esp those of the genus Parus (bluetit, great tit, etc). They have a short bill and feed on insects and seeds
any of various similar small birds

archaic, or dialect a worthless or worn-out horse; nag

Origin of tit

C16: perhaps of imitative origin, applied to small animate or inanimate objects; compare Icelandic tittr pin

British Dictionary definitions for tit (2 of 3)

tit²

/ (tɪt) /

noun

slang a female breast
a teat or nipple

derogatory a girl or young woman
slang a despicable or unpleasant person: often used as a term of address

Origin of tit

Old English titt; related to Middle Low German title, Norwegian titta

British Dictionary definitions for Tit. (3 of 3)

Tit.

/ Bible /

abbreviation for

Titus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse