[A parallel form to CLATTER, expressing a more attenuated action of the same kind; cf. chitter, chatter, jibber, jabber, etc. Cf. also Ger. klittern, and its relations to klattern.]
† 1. To chatter. Obs.
a. 1528. Skelton, Col. Cloute. He prates and he patters He clytters and he clatters.
b. Said of a grasshopper or cicada: cf. CHITTER.
1844. Ld. Houghton, Mem. Many Scenes, To Eng. Lady, 177. I lay aloof, With the cicala faintly clittering near.
2. To make a thin vibratory rattle; to cause to vibrate and rattle lightly. trans. and intr.
1530. Palsgr., 487/1. I clytter, I make noyse, as harnesse or peuter dysshes…. These peuter pottes clytter as moche as if they were of sylver.
1537. Thersytes, in Four O. Pl. (1848), 82. Clytteringe and clatteringe there youre pottes with ale.
3. dial. To flutter.
1880. W. Cornwall Gloss., Clittering its wings.
