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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PITTIE-PATTIE, adv., n., v. Also pitty-patty. [′pɪte ′pɑte]

I. adv. Used onomat. to indicate a rapid beating motion or palpitation (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 383); freq. of the heart in phr. to gae (play, etc.) pittie-pattie, to beat wildly, flutter, go pit-a-pat.Sc. 1724 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 56:
My Flighteren Heart gangs pittie-pattie.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 45:
Thy little heartie canna rest, But pittie, pattie, 'gainst thy breast It quiverin plays!wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan 92:
You'll ken yoursel whether your heart gaes pittie-pattie whan you're passing her.Ags. 1848 Feast Liter. Crumbs (1891) 53:
I fand her heart play pitty patty.

II. n. The sound of a fluttering heart (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 385), of quick light footsteps or the like. Also attrib.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize viii.:
She came toddling along, with pitty patty steps.

III. v. Of the heart: to beat quickly, palpitate, flutter.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 44:
Which gars my Jo aft grip my Hand Till his Heart pitty-pattys.Gsw. 1862 J. Gardner Jottiana 30:
My youthfu' heart within my breast Was pitty-pattyin' 'bout the beast.