A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1649
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Pitter-patter, v. [Cf. e.m.E. pytter-pattour (1561), pitter-patter (1679), ME. pytyr-patyr (c 1425) n. = rapid repetition of words, also Patter v. Cf. also 19th c. northern Eng. pitter-patter v. to beat like rain, palpitate.] tr. To repeat (words) rapidly and mechanically. — 1649 Scottish Notes and Queries 1 Ser. 122.
Betie pitter pattered some words quhilk she could not know what they were
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"Pitter-patter v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pitter_patter>
