▪ I. † tittery, n. slang. Obs.
(ˈtɪtərɪ)
Also 8 titery, (tityre).
[app. f. titter v.2 + -y, lit. unsteady, unstable, tottering.]
A slang name for gin.
| 1725 G. Smith Compl. Body Distilling i. 49 Geneva hath more several and different names and titles, than any other liquor that is sold here: as double Geneva, royal Geneva, celestial Geneva, Tittery..and has gain'd..universal applause. 1730 Bailey (folio), Tityre or Tittery, a Nickname given to the Liquor..called Geneva.., prob. because it makes the Drinkers merry, laugh, and titter. 1751 Gordon Another Cordial II. 14 A Shop where Titery, Quorum, or Gin (call it by what name you will) is sold. |
▪ II. tittery, a.
(ˈtɪtərɪ)
[f. titter v.1 or n.2 + -y1.]
Of laughter, remarks, etc.: having a nervous, tittering quality.
| 1936 M. Mitchell Gone with Wind xxxv. 591 The tittery cackling laugh which she always found so annoying. 1962 E. O'Brien Lonely Girls ii. 23 He would have seen me..saying foolish tittery things to amuse the others. 1983 Financial Times 15 Sept. 13 After a richly funny beginning the characters and story fracture into a series of fluttery, tittery vignettes. |