Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700, 1775-1933
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TITTIE, n.1 Also titty, titta (Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 91). A familiar term for sister (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 693; ‡Per. 1972). Now only liter. Also attrib. Comb. Tittie-billie, lit. “sister-brother” (see Billy), hence adv. in close relationship, on a par. [′tɪte]Sc. c.1700 Orpheus Caledonius (1725) 40:
He had a wee Titty that lo'ed na me, Because I was twice as bonny as she.Sc. a.1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs I. 312:
My titty Mary said to me, Our courtship but a joke wad be.Ayr. 1789 Burns Tam Glen viii.:
Come, counsel, dear tittie, don't tarry.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 214:
Geer that soud bake her ain cakes Gi'en Titty Englan'.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxvii.:
Mither's in Glasgow wi' her tittie, and sall plague ye nae mair.Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
Tam's a great thief, but Will's tittie-billie wi' him.Edb. 1869 J. Smith Poems 34:
Wi' billies bauld, an' titties shy.Gall. 1889 Bards Gall. (Harper) 213:
My faither's jeers, my mither's scorn, My tittie's spleen maun a' be borne.Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 44:
My Auntie Susan frae Edinburgh, faither's tittie.Sc. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in Wind 16:
His mither grat, his faither murn'd, His tittie frunsh'd wi' fricht.
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"Tittie n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tittie_n1>
