[F. tartine (Oudin, 1642) little tart, bread and jam, bread and butter (also fig. as in b), f. tarte, TART sb.] ‘A slice of bread spread with butter or preserve’ (Stanf.).
1795. Wilkes, Corr. (1804), 12 July, IV. 178. Madame Fairy shall have a double share of my tartine when I return.
1826. [H. Best], Four Years France, 237. The tea equipage, with its usual accompaniments of tartines and toast.
1842. Thackeray, Fitz-Boodle Papers, ii. She placidly handed out this decoction, which we took with cakes and tartines.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, I. v. 89. Accordingly, as soon as the said Robert was seated at the breakfast table, and she had helped him to a portion of stewed pears, and cut him a good-sized Belgian tartine, she began to pour out a flood of amazement and horror at the transaction of last night, the destruction of the frames.
1885. Warren & Cleverly, Wand. Beetle, 15. Bread and butter was better than nothing, so we got her to cut us some enormous tartines.
b. fig. A big article of commonplace character.
1907. Athenæum, 13 July, 48/2. In a first glance through the galleries you stop before the huge ‘tartines,’ the more … sensational pictures which aim at attracting the crowd.
