Also 6 wyttam, wittam, wittome, 7 wittham. The name of certain villages in Lincolnshire and Essex. Little (or small) Witham was used proverbially (with pun on WIT sb.) for a place of which the inhabitants were remarkable for stupidity. Hence (app.), without qualification, used for: A witless person, a fool.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, B ij. Small wyttam be your spede.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 182. Whens come great breeches? from little wittam.
1589. Nashe, Anat. Absurditie, C 3 b. Who so snatcheth vp follies too greedilie … may happes proue a wittome whiles he fisheth for finer witte.
1589. Martins Months Minde, G 2 b. I appoynt … to each of them an Aduouson: To the former of small Wittam: and to the other of little Brainford.
1589. Almond for Parrat, D 4. G. W. of Wig. house, in the land of little Wittam, chosen to the place and function of a pastor.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Lincs. (1662), 153. Lincolneshire … Proverbs. He was born at Little Wittham…. It is applyed to such people as are not overstock’d with acutenesse.
