[Goes with TIT v.2]
1. In phr. tit for tat [app. a variation of tip for tap, known a century earlier: see TAP sb., TIP sb.2, and cf. prec. But perh. wholly or partly onomatopœic.] One blow or stroke in return for another; an equivalent given in return (usually in the way of injury, rarely of benefit); retaliation.
The whole phrase is used sometimes as a sb., sometimes as adj. or adv.; also, elliptically or as interj.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & F., xxxvii. 26. That is tit for tat in this altricacion.
1586. J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 94/1. That they would not sticke to set his seruants at libertie, so he would redeliuer them the youth of the citie, which was nothing else in effect, but tit for tat.
1682–3. Dixon, Canidia, I. 5.
| I am resolv’d, before I squat, | |
| To shew ’um a Trick, by laying them flat, | |
| And play with ’um Tit for Tat. |
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 229, ¶ 3. I was threatened to be answered Weekly Tit for Tat.
1755. Jackson’s Oxford Jrnl., 31 May, 3/2.
| I pouch’d the Bag, had Quantum fat, | |
| Did them their Work, ’twas Tit for Tat. |
1809. J. Quincy, in Life, 181. I shall … give … what politicians call a Rowland for their Oliver, and what the ladies term tit for tat.
1881. Saintsbury, Dryden, iv. 80. A fair literary tit-for-tat in return for the Rehearsal.
1891. Daily News, 16 July, 5/1. Fair Traders, Reciprocity men, or believers in the tit-for-tat plan of dealing with other nations.
1905. H. A. Vachell, The Hill, viii. Tit for tat. If I do this for you, will you do something for me?
2. A light stroke or tap; a slap: cf. TIP sb.2
1808. Jamieson, Tyte, tit.… 2. A slight stroke, a tap.
1891. Hartland Gloss., s.v., I’ll gi’e ’ee a tit under the yur.
3. Comb.: tit-tat, an imitation of the sound of alternating taps or blows; tit-tat-toe, the beginning of a formula used in ‘picking’ or fixing upon a person or thing, hence a children’s game; also tick-tack-toe, tip-tap-toe.
In quot. a. 1700 imitating the noise made in toddling.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Tit-tat, the aiming of Children to go at first.
1855. Anne Manning, O. Chelsea Bun-house, xiii. 211. I played at Tit-tat-to with Joe, and posed him with hard riddles.
1909. Daily Chron., 22 July, 7/1. Drawing to be diversified by noughts and crosses and ‘tit tat toe.’
