tewhit, tewit Now local.
(ˈtiːhwɪt, ˈtiːwɪt, ˈtjuːɪt; also ˈtjuːxɪt, ˈtjʌxɪt, ˈtjuːfɪt)
Forms: α. 5, 8–9 tuchet, 6 tuechit, 9 teuchit, -at, tchuchet; β. 7 tuewhite, tequhyt, terwhite, 9 tuquheit, tewhit, teewheep, -whoap; γ. 6 tuwyte, 7– tewit (7–9 tewet, 7 teewitte); δ. 8–9 tewfet, tufit, 9 tufat, teufet, teufit, teafit.
[Orig. echoic: see pewit. The α and β forms are Sc.; the others are cited in the Eng. Dial. Dict. from Scotland to Yorks. and Chesh.]
The common Lapwing or Pewit, Vanellus cristatus.
| α c 1450 Holland Howlat 834 The Tuchet gird to the Golk, and gaif him a fall. 1549 Compl. Scotl. vi. 39 The tuechitis cryit theuis nek, quhen the piettis clattrit. 1746 Forbes Dominie Deposed iii. iii, 'Tis strange what makes kirk-fouks so stupid,..Far better for them hunt the touchit. 1815 G. Beattie John o' Arnha (1826) 63 The timid teuchit slouch'd its crest. 1899 J. Colville Scot. Vernacular 12 The teuchat..wailed out in circles round the intruder. |
| β 1629 Orkney Witch Trial in Dalyell Darker Superstit. Scotl. (1834) 150 note, Get the bones of ane tequhyt, and carry thame in your clothes. 1824 Mactaggart Gallovid. Encycl. s.v. Pirr, Eggs, somewhat like tewhit eggs in size and colour. 1835 J. M. Wilson Tales Borders I. 185/2 He was just in the situation o' a tewhit that had lost its mate—te-wheet! te-wheet! it cried. |
| γ 1592 Shuttleworths' Acc. (Chetham Soc.) 76 Towe tuwytes and a snype, iij{supd}. 1678 Ray Willughby's Ornith. 307 In the North of England they call it the Tewit, from its cry. 1688 J. Clayton in Phil. Trans. XVII. 997 The Tewits are smaller than the English, and have no long Toppins. 1828 Craven Gloss., Tewet, a pewit or plover. |
| δ 1787 Grose Provinc. Gloss., Tewfet, a lapwing. North. 1788 W. Marshall Yorksh. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Tufit,..the peewit, or green plover. 1878 Cumbld. Gloss., Teufet. |