[A varied reduplication of TATTLE v.; cf. prec. and LG. titel-tateln.] intr. To chatter, prate, talk idly; to gossip.
1583. Babington, Commandm., ix. (1637), 92. Any woman, when she hath met with her gossip, to titile tattle, to the slander of another.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 275. To whistle of these secrets, but you must be tittle-tatling before all our guests?
1691. Southerne, Sir A. Love, V. i. A good-natur’d, old merry fellow,… who can tittle-tattle and gossip in their families upon an ancient privilege.
1765. Bickerstaff, Accomplish’d Maid, I. ii. It does not become servants to be tittle tattling of their masters and mistresses affairs.
1848. Thackeray, Lett., Oct. I should like to take another sheet and go on tittle-tattling, it drops off almost as fast as talking.
Hence Tittle-tattling vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; Tittle-tattler, one addicted to tittle-tattle, an idle talker, a gossip.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (Sommer), 163. You are ful of your tittle tattling of Cupid.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 37. But for anie other secret … they seldome or neuer impart it to these tittle tatlers.
1780. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 6 Dec. His lady—tittle-tattling, monotonous, and tiresome.
1887. Smiles, Life & Labour, 343. It is better even to have a useless hobby than to be a tittle-tatler and a busybody.
