Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CHEETLE, CHEITLE, v. “To chirp, to chatter or warble; applied to the sounds emitted by small birds when they sit upon their young, or feed them” (Per., Knr. 1825 Jam.2, cheitle; Lnk.3 1939). Cf. Chittle, v.2, 1. [′tʃitl]Slg. 1885 W. Towers Poems, etc. 176:
Her auld friends, the piets, sat cheetlin' on a tree.
