Obs. Also Titire-Tu, Tytire tu, Tytere-tu, Tittery tu, tittyry. [From L. Tītyre tū, the first words of Virgils first eclogue, Tityre, tu patulæ recubans sub tegmine fagi, adopted as a designation.]
One of an association of well-to-do roughs who infested London streets in the 17th c.
The name meant to imply that these blades were men of leisure and fortune, who lay at ease under their patrimonial beech trees (Brewer, Readers Handbk.).
1623. J. Chamberlain, Lett. to Sir D. Carleton, 6 Dec., in Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), II. 438. There is a crew or knot of such people who have made an association, and taken certain oaths and orders devised among themselves; having certain nicknames, as Tityre-tu, and such like, for their several fraternities.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Navy Land Ships, Wks. I. 77/2. Roaring boyes, and Rough-hewd Tittery tues.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., New Years Gift to Sir S. Steward. No newes of navies burnt at seas; No noise of late spawnd tittyries.
1693. Southerne, Maids Last Prayer, II. ii. I remember your Dammee-Boyes, your Swashes, your Tuquoques and your Titire-Tues.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 361, note. It may be suspected that some of the Tityre Tus, like good cavaliers, broke Miltons windows shortly after the Restoration.