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Archiver > ABOUT-WORDS > 2004-04 > 1080844055


From: Lee Quinn <>
Subject: [ABOUT WORDS] titbits
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2004 13:30:52 -0500
References: <004b01c416b0$a66468f0$0cf8eb18@wordcruncher>
In-Reply-To: <00c301c41823$912c2d50$40f0a1cd@preferred>


Gordon:

Titbit and tidbit do not seem to evolve from the same root.

GrampsQ
============

tit1, n.
1. a titmouse.
2. any of various other small birds.
3. Archaic. a girl or young woman; hussy.
4. Archaic. a small or poor horse; nag.
[1540–50; repr. ME tite- (in titemose TITMOUSE); c. Norw tite titmouse;
akin to ON tittr tack, pin. See TIT2]

tit2, n.
1. a teat.
2. Slang (vulgar). a breast.
[bef. 1100; ME titte, OE titt; c. MLG, MD titte, G Zitze, Norw titta; akin
to TIT1]
--------------
tid·bit, n.
1. a delicate bit or morsel of food.
2. a choice or pleasing bit of anything, as news or gossip.
Also, esp. Brit., titbit.
[1630–40; TIDE1 (in sense "feast day') + BIT2]


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At 12:55 PM 4/1/04 -0700, "Gordon Barlow" <> wrote:
> > Thank you Bill, for that tidbit.
> > Bruce.
> >
>When did titbits become tidbits - or vice versa? I strongly suspect it is
>bowdlerisation - unnecessary, if so, since few of us would ever refer to a
>flat-chested woman (or man) as being possessed of "titbits". I mean,
>surely!
>
>Gordon


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