Middle English Dictionary Entry
twiteren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | twiteren v. Also twitren. |
| Etymology | Prob. imitative; cp. OHG zwizerōn, OSwed. kvitra, Swed. dial. tittra, EMnDu. queteren, etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of a bird: to chirp, twitter; also, warble (songs), utter.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.237 : Þe osul twytereþ mery songes..Þe nyȝtyngale in his note Twytereþ..Wiþ full swete song.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)639/18 : Þe male [sparrow] is ielous of his wyf and twiteriþ ofte for here.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.2.30 : The janglynge brid..twytereth [vr. twitriþ], desyrynge the wode, with hir swete voys.