tit-tatn.int.
/ˈtɪtˌtat/, /ˌtɪtˈtat/, U.S. /ˈtɪtˌtæt/, /ˌtɪtˈtæt/ Now rare.
A. n.
An alternation of beating or knocking sounds, as those made by footsteps, tapping, etc.In quot. 1699: (apparently) spec. the noise made by toddlers when walking.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [noun] > sound of footsteps
stepa1616
tramping1660
stump1690
tit-tat1699
treading1709–10
pad1879
plod-plodding1881
heels1883
flip-flop1889
clump1891
pid-pad1900
plod1902
clomp1912
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Tit-tat, the aiming of Children to go at first.
1823 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 703/1 The rain no sooner falls from heaven, than it finds its way to the innermost recess of the miserable hut, and where sunshine without will procure no remission of the tit-tat within.
1847 Bentley's Misc. 22 347 The tit-tat of the Australian wood-pecker sounded clear and distinct.
1903 North-China Herald 11 Dec. 1229/3 The ‘tit tat’ of the small foot will become but an echo of the suffering past.
1942 Calumet (Civilian Public Service Camp) 25 May Laughter again comes to the dorms, the tit-tat of table tennis floats down from the rec hall.
B. int.
Representing an alternation of beating or knocking sounds, as those made by footsteps, tapping, etc.
ΚΠ
1721 tr. M. de Cervantes Hist. Atchievem. Don Quixote xxii. 160 Their whole Diversion now upon the Road was Tit-Tat.
1763 H. S. J. Giral del Pino Dict. Spanish & Eng. I. at Tris Tris tras, to signify a clattering noise, as with us no less barbarously, tit tat, and clip clap.
1868 T. L. Cuyler Empty Crib 28 My heart it went tit-tat.
1970 R. Van Zandt Wilson in Promise Land ii. 80 (stage direct.) As drum simulates a heartbeat—tit-tat . . . tit-tat . . . tit-tat—the young Wilson stands transfixed by surging ambition.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.int.1699