Obs. rare. Also 4 tydif(e, tydyf, tideue, ti-, tydyue. [Origin and sense obscure: cf. also TYDIE, and TIDIVE = TIDY a.] Name of some small bird. (Swainson, after Skinner, suggests the Blue titmouse.)
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 154. And thoo [birds] that hadde doon vnkyndenesse As dooth the tydif [v.rr. tydyf, tydife] for new fangelness Besoghte mercy … And sworen on the blosmes to be trewe. Ibid. (c. 1386), Sqr.’s T., 640. Alle thise false fowles As beth thise tidyues [v.rr. tydyues, tydifs, tideues] tercelettes and Owles.
1671. Skinner, Etymolog., Voc. Antiq., Tidefes … avis genus, nescio an illa avis quam nos Titmouse vocamus.
