| 释义 |
pit-a-pat, pit-pat, adv., a., n.|ˈpɪtəˌpæt, ˈpɪtpæt|
Also 7 a-pit-pat, a-pit-to-pat, 7–8 a-pit-a-pat, 8 Sc. pittie-pattie, 8–9 pitty-pat, pitty-patty.
[Echoic, expressing alternating sounds. Cf. pitter-patter.]
An imitation of the repeated or alternated sound made by the strong beating or palpitation of the heart in excitement or emotion; also of that of light or rapid footsteps, or of similar alternating or reiterated sounds.
A. adv. With such a sound or sounds; palpitatingly: patteringly. Usually in phr. to go pit-a-pat.
1522More De Quat. Nouiss. Wks. 94/1 Some wretches yt scant can crepe for age..walk pit pat vpon a paire of patens. 1601B. Jonson Poetaster iv. i, You shall haue kisses.., goe pit-pat, pit-pat, pit-pat, vpon your lips, as thick as stones out of slings. 1621Fletcher Isl. Princess iii. i, And how their hearts go pit-a-pat. 1623–4Middleton & Rowley Spanish Gipsy iii. ii, The shot that fly, Pit-a-pat rattling in the sky. 1676D'Urfey Mme. Fickle v. ii, My heart goes a-pit-to-pat. 1677A. Behn Rover iii. i, My heart goes a pit a-pat. 1693Congreve Old Bach. ii. ii, Agad, my heart has gone apit pat for thee. a1758Ramsay Highland Lassie iii, My flighterin heart gangs pittie-pattie. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 116 Her feet went pit-a-pat with joy. 1840Dickens Barn. Rudge liii, Tramp, tramp, pit-pat, on they come together. 1871G. Meredith H. Richmond III. 119 Her heart..was easily set pitty-pat.
B. adj. Of the nature of, or characterized by, such reiterated sound; palpitating; pattering.
a1637B. Jonson Underwoods xciv. Pet. Poor Men, The rattling pit-pat noise Of the less poetic boys. 1712Steele Spect. No. 503 ⁋2 She..stepp'd out of her Pew, and fell into the finest pitty-pat Air,..tossing her Head up and down. 1810Splendid Follies III. 109 She descended with a pit-a-pat heart. 1894A. Webster Mother & Dau. (1895) 34 The approaching sound of pit pat feet.
C. n. The sound itself, or the action producing it; palpitation, pattering, etc.
1582Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 66 Tripping with pit pat vnequal. 1681Dryden Tamerl. Epil. 12 'Tis but the pit-a-pat of two young hearts. 1784R. Bage Barham Downs II. 318 You..may make love, and play your pitty patties. 1824Byron Juan xvi. cxii, That stealthy pace..So like a spiritual pit a-pat. 1888T. Hardy Wessex Tales (1889) 160 The pit-a-pat of their horses' hoofs lessened.
Hence pit-a-pat (pit-pat, etc.) v. intr., to go pit-a-pat, to palpitate, to patter; whence pit-a-patting vbl. n. and ppl. a.; also pit-a-paˈt-ation (humorous), palpitation.
1606Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. ii. Magnif. 1137 Swains,..the strouting Clusters cut,..Run..to the fragrant Fat, Tumble them in, and after *pit-a-pat Up to the Waste. 1728Ramsay Fables x. 22 Till his heart pitty-pattys. 1757Garrick Male Coquette (Jod.), There will not be a female heart, but will pitapat, as he passes by. 1827W. G. S. Excursion Vill. Curate 123, I heard footsteps softly pit-patting up the stairs.
a1735Ld. Peterborough Song i. in F. Locker Lyra Elegant. 99, I said to my heart,..What black, brown, or fair, in what clime, in what nation, By turns has not taught thee a *pit-a-pat-ation? 1763Colman Prose on Sev. Occas. (1787) I. 227 The pit-a-pat-ation of their dear little bosoms.
1844Tupper Crock of G. xxvi. 209 He was so very fearful the *pitapating would betray him. 1869Blackmore Lorna D. vii, My little heart was ashamed of its pit-a-patting. 1894Outing (U.S.) XXIV. 14/1, I looked around..a soft pit-a-patting sound behind me. |