[f. TIT sb.3 + -LING. Cf. Norw. dial. titling a small size of dried stockfish (Aasen), Icel. titlingr sparrow: see Biörkman, Indog. Forsch., XXX. 269.]
† 1. A small size of stockfish. Obs.
1386–7. Letter Bk. H. Lond., lf. 212 b. De qualibet centena de alio Stokfissh vocat’ Croplyng et Titlyng.
1545. Rates of Customs, c vj. Stokfish called cropling the last v. li. … Stokfysshe called tytling the last l.s.
1660. Act Chas. II., c. 4. Sched. Rates Inwards, Stockfish voc. Cropling, Lubfish, Titling.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, ii. ‘Stockfish—Titling—Cropling—Lubfish. You should have noted that they are all, nevertheless, to be entered as titlings.—How many inches long is a titling?’… ‘Eighteen inches, sir.’
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Titling, an old Customs name for stockfish.
2. Name for various small birds. a. The hedge-sparrow. (Now only Sc. and north. dial.) b. TITLARK. c. (rarely) = TITMOUSE.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 39. The titlene follouit the goilk, ande gart hyr sing guk guk.
1552. Elyot, Curruca..., a litle byrd, which hatcheth and bryngeth vp cuckow byrdes. It is supposed to be an hedge sparowe, or rather a titlyng.
1611. Cotgr., Argatile, a kind of titling, or titmouse.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Impr. (1746), 191. The Cuckow ever lays her Egg in the Titling’s Nest.
1802. G. Montagu, Ornith. Dict., Warbler, Hedge,… Provincial. Titling. Dunnock…. Commonly called Hedge Sparrow. Ibid. (1831), 246. Hedge Chanter…. Provincial … Dunnock, Dick-Dunnock, Titling. Ibid., 512. Titling. A name for the Meadow Pipit and Hedge Chaunter.
1808. Jamieson, s.v. Titlene, When two persons are so intimate that the one obsequiously follows the other, it is said, ‘They are as grit as the gowk and the titlene.’
1829. E. Elliott, Vill. Patriarch, IV. vii. Hark, how the titling whistles o’er the road!
1852. F. O. Morris, Brit. Birds, II. 166. Rock Pipit. Rock Lark. Sea Lark. Field Lark…. Sea Titling.
1882. J. Hardy, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, IX. No. 3. 429. He had frequently … watched young cuckoos while being fed by titlings (Anthus pratensis).
1885. Swainson, Provinc. Names Birds, 45. Meadow Pipit … also Titling, or Tit.
