- Tit for tat
- Tit Tit, n.
1. A small horse. --Tusser.
[1913 Webster]
2. A woman; -- used in contempt. --Burton. [1913 Webster]
3. A morsel; a bit. --Halliwell. [1913 Webster]
4. [OE.; cf. Icel. titter a tit or small bird. The word probably meant originally, something small, and is perhaps the same as teat. Cf. {Titmouse}, {Tittle}.] (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging to the families {Parid[ae]} and {Leiotrichid[ae]}; a titmouse. (b) The European meadow pipit; a titlark. [1913 Webster]
{Ground tit}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Wren tit}, under {Wren}.
{Hill tit} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of Asiatic singing birds belonging to {Siva}, {Milna}, and allied genera.
{Tit babbler} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of small East Indian and Asiatic timaline birds of the genus {Trichastoma}.
{Tit for tat}. [Probably for tip for tap. See {Tip} a slight blow.] An equivalent; retaliation.
{Tit thrush} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of Asiatic and East Indian birds belonging to {Suthora} and allied genera. In some respects they are intermediate between the thrushes and titmice. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
