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.
‡TITE, adv. Also tyte. Quickly, without delay or intermission, straight, directly, in rapid succession (I.Sc. 1972). Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. since the 17th c. Compar. titter, tita (Slk. 1825 Jam., obsol.) sooner, rather, for preference. Also in n.Eng. dial.; superl. (irreg. from compar.) ¶tittermaist, -most, nearest, foremost, soonest reached (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). [′tɪtər-]Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1874) I. 60:
I had titter die than live wi' him a year.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 39:
I'd gotten a lump o' my ain dead the day, Wi' weet an' wind sae tyte into my teeth.Cai. 1773 Weekly Mag. (28 Oct.) 147:
The reek now rises tyte frae ilk a lum.ne.Sc. 1790 Caled. Mercury (14 June):
Thow, cowdy, apen't out thy geir, An' tyte an' ydent.Sh. 1953:
Dey hed deir faimilies tite i da aald days.
