Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
chitter. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
chitter, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
chitter in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
chitter you have here. The definition of the word
chitter will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
chitter, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology 1
From Middle English chiteren, chitren, cheteren. Ultimately onomatopoeic; compare didder and teeter as well as German zittern.
Verb
chitter (third-person singular simple present chitters, present participle chittering, simple past and past participle chittered)
- To make a series of high-pitched sounds; to twitter, chirp or chatter.
It was a beautifully sunny day and beetles could be heard chittering loudly in the rose garden by the side of the path made out of antique bricks.
- (obsolete, Scotland) To shiver or chatter with cold.
1786, Robert Burns, A Winter Night:Whare wilt thou cower thy chittering wing, / An' close thy e'e?
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Noun
chitter (plural chitters)
- (dialect) Alternative form of chitterling
References
- “chitter” in the Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, 1974 edition.