† Twittle-twattle

Obs. Also 6 twitle twattle, twitell-twaytel. [app. altered from TITTLE-TATTLE: see TWATTLE sb.¹] Idle talk, tittle-tattle. Also attrib.

1

1556. Olde, Antichrist, 7 b. Suche a kynde of religioun, as hath more twitle twattle toyes in it, then the Leuitical lawe.

2

1565. Abp. Parker, Corr. (Parker Soc.), 237. My lord of Leicester, they say, shall move … the Queen’s Majesty,… and M^r. Cole is now at the Court…, which will overthrow all this attempt: and such twitell-twaytel there is much.

3

c. 1578. W. Roper, Life Sir T. More (1729), 89. She … not likinge suche talke, answered, twittle, twattle, twittle, twattle.

4

1668. R. L’Estrange, Vis. Quev. (1708), 244. The squalling of the Child, and the Twittle-Twattle-Gossipings of the Nurse and Midwife.

5

1719. D’Urfey, Pills, III. 250. Leave your twittle twattle.

6