pit-a-pat, pit-pat, adv., a., n.
(ˈpɪtəˌpæt, ˈpɪtpæt)
Also 7 a-pit-pat, a-pit-to-pat, 7–8 a-pit-a-pat, 8 Sc. pittie-pattie, 8–9 pitty-pat, pitty-patty.
[Echoic, expressing alternating sounds. Cf. pitter-patter.]
An imitation of the repeated or alternated sound made by the strong beating or palpitation of the heart in excitement or emotion; also of that of light or rapid footsteps, or of similar alternating or reiterated sounds.
A. adv. With such a sound or sounds; palpitatingly: patteringly. Usually in phr. to go pit-a-pat.
| 1522 More De Quat. Nouiss. Wks. 94/1 Some wretches y{supt} scant can crepe for age..walk pit pat vpon a paire of patens. 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. i, You shall haue kisses.., goe pit-pat, pit-pat, pit-pat, vpon your lips, as thick as stones out of slings. 1621 Fletcher Isl. Princess iii. i, And how their hearts go pit-a-pat. 1623–4 Middleton & Rowley Spanish Gipsy iii. ii, The shot that fly, Pit-a-pat rattling in the sky. 1676 D'Urfey Mme. Fickle v. ii, My heart goes a-pit-to-pat. 1677 A. Behn Rover iii. i, My heart goes a pit a-pat. 1693 Congreve Old Bach. ii. ii, Agad, my heart has gone apit pat for thee. a 1758 Ramsay Highland Lassie iii, My flighterin heart gangs pittie-pattie. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 116 Her feet went pit-a-pat with joy. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge liii, Tramp, tramp, pit-pat, on they come together. 1871 G. Meredith H. Richmond III. 119 Her heart..was easily set pitty-pat. |
B. adj. Of the nature of, or characterized by, such reiterated sound; palpitating; pattering.
| a 1637 B. Jonson Underwoods xciv. Pet. Poor Men, The rattling pit-pat noise Of the less poetic boys. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 503 ¶2 She..stepp'd out of her Pew, and fell into the finest pitty-pat Air,..tossing her Head up and down. 1810 Splendid Follies III. 109 She descended with a pit-a-pat heart. 1894 A. Webster Mother & Dau. (1895) 34 The approaching sound of pit pat feet. |
C. n. The sound itself, or the action producing it; palpitation, pattering, etc.
| 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 66 Tripping with pit pat vnequal. 1681 Dryden Tamerl. Epil. 12 'Tis but the pit-a-pat of two young hearts. 1784 R. Bage Barham Downs II. 318 You..may make love, and play your pitty patties. 1824 Byron Juan xvi. cxii, That stealthy pace..So like a spiritual pit a-pat. 1888 T. Hardy Wessex Tales (1889) 160 The pit-a-pat of their horses' hoofs lessened. |
Hence
pit-a-pat (
pit-pat, etc.)
v. intr., to go pit-a-pat, to palpitate, to patter; whence
pit-a-patting vbl. n. and ppl. a.; also
pit-a-paˈt-ation (
humorous), palpitation.
| 1606 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. ii. Magnif. 1137 Swains,..the strouting Clusters cut,..Run..to the fragrant Fat, Tumble them in, and after *pit-a-pat Up to the Waste. 1728 Ramsay Fables x. 22 Till his heart pitty-pattys. 1757 Garrick Male Coquette (Jod.), There will not be a female heart, but will pitapat, as he passes by. 1827 W. G. S. Excursion Vill. Curate 123, I heard footsteps softly pit-patting up the stairs. |
| a 1735 Ld. Peterborough Song i. in F. Locker Lyra Elegant. 99, I said to my heart,..What black, brown, or fair, in what clime, in what nation, By turns has not taught thee a *pit-a-pat-ation? 1763 Colman Prose on Sev. Occas. (1787) I. 227 The pit-a-pat-ation of their dear little bosoms. |
| 1844 Tupper Crock of G. xxvi. 209 He was so very fearful the *pitapating would betray him. 1869 Blackmore Lorna D. vii, My little heart was ashamed of its pit-a-patting. 1894 Outing (U.S.) XXIV. 14/1, I looked around..a soft pit-a-patting sound behind me. |