vbl. sb. [f. TWIT v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb TWIT.
1. (Light) reproach or censure; taunting.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Exprobation, or reproche, a reproch, a twiting.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 48. Tush, pedegree, pedegree, here is nothing with you in hand but twitting with pedegree.
1611. Cotgr., Reproche, an vpbraiding, twitting, or casting in the teeth.
1647. Hexham, I. A twiting, een verwijting.
1891. E. W. Gosse, Gossip in Library, xiv. 175. The only rough thing he ever did was the result of one such twitting.
2. Tale-telling, blabbing. Now dial.
a. 1643. Cartwright, Ordinary, IV. iv. D’ y’ think I would undo me self by twitting?… I’m faithfull, And secret, though a Barber.
So Twitting ppl. a., that twits; whence Twittingly adv., in the way of twitting, tauntingly.
1675. trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., I. 125. Having reckoned all his Civilities to the English Nation, he twittingly upbraided them therewith.
1838. B. Corney, Controversy, 20. The points whereon you may have been criticised rather twittingly.
