whittie-whattie, n. Sc. and north. dial.
(ˈhwɪtɪhwɒtɪ)
Also 7 whytie whatie, 8 whity-whaty, 9 whittee-whattee.
[Reduplicated ? on what int. pron.]
Vague or undecided talk or statement; indecision, shilly-shallying; a frivolous excuse. So whittie-whattie v. intr., to be undecided, to shilly-shally; also, to speak low or secretly, to mutter, whisper.
| c 1680 R. MacWard Contend. (1723) 363 The sense and substance of all this whittie whattie..will be only, ‘O be quiet’ [etc.]. 1692 ‘J. Curate’ Sc. Presbyt. Eloq. 110 Criticks with their frim frams and whytie whaties, may imagine a hundred reasons. 1808 Jamieson, Whitie-whaties, silly pretences;..frivolous excuses. 1821 Scott Pirate vi, ‘What are ye whittie-whattieing about, ye gowk?’ said his gentle sister, who suspected the tenor of his murmurs. |