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.
Quotation dates: 1810, 1887-1898
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CHITTLE, Chettle, v.2
†1. "To warble, to chatter" (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2). Cf. Cheetle.Per. 1898 E.D.D.:
The birds are chittlin' bonnily.Fif. 1887 G. Gourlay Our Old Neighbours 79:
"Yes," chettled Nell Wilkie, "but I heard oor minister tellin' . . . that the een o' the hale nation is on oor little broch this day."Dmf. 1810 R. H. Cromek Rem. Nithsd. and Gall. Song 119:
The lintie chittles sad i' the high tower wa'.
2. To backbite (Per. (Strathearn) 1916 T.S.D.C. II.). An extension of meaning 1 from the idea of irresponsible chatter.
[Phs. a frequentative from obs. Eng. chit, to chirp.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Chittle v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/chittle_v2>
