Pit-a-pat, verb. (colloquial).—To walk lightly and quickly: as with a quick succession of sounds; to palpitate. Also adj. and subs. [The same word as 'prittle-prattle' (or 'pittle-pattle' = to chatter): see quot. 1555.]
d.1555. Latimer, Remains [Parker Soc (1844-5), i. 106]. In our deeds I fear me too many of us deny God to be God, whatsoever we pittle-pattle with our tongues. Ibid., Sermons, 306 verso. She doth not as our Papistes doe, which prittle prattle a whole day uppon theyr Beades.
1601. Jonson, Poetaster, iv. 1. You shall have kisses from them go pit-pat, pit-pat, pit-pat upon your lips as thick as stones out of slings at the assault of a city.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, ii. Run bow'd with burthens to the fragrant Fat, Tumble them in and after pit-a-pat Vp to the Waste.
1618. Fletcher, Loyal Subject, ii. 2. 'Lord, how my heart leaps' . . . 'Twill go pit-a-pat shortly.
1690. Dryden, Don Sebastian, iii. 2. Now again I hear the pit-a-pat of a pretty foot through the dark alley.
1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, ii. 2. Agad, my heart has gone a pit pat for thee.
1711. Steele, Spectator, 503. She immediately stepped out of her pew, And fell into the finest pitty-pat air.
d.1891. Lowell, Courtin' [Century]. His heart kept going pity-pat, But hern went pity Zekle.
Pitch, subs. (showmen's and
tramps').—(1) A place: of sale
or entertainment. Also (2) a
performance or sale. Hence, to
pitch (or do a pitch) = to do
business; to queer a pitch =
to spoil a performance or a sale;
to mar one's plans.
1851-6. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. xii. In consequence of a new Police Regulation 'stands' or pitches have been forbidden.
c.1864. Vance, The Chickaleary Cove, 3. At Groves's you're safe to make a sure pitch.
1876. Hindley, Adv. of a Cheap Jack. When I had done my pitch, and got down from the stage.
1887. Henley, Villon's Good Night, 2. You swatchel-coves that pitch and slam. Ibid., A Book of Verses, 'Hospital Outlines.' A conjuror Doing his pitch in the street.
1899. Pall Mall Gaz., 21 Ap., 8, 1. Lord Rosebery and his sons had come out evidently to enjoy a brief spell of the bright sunshine. When they came to the crossing-sweeper's pitch there was a cheery word with a smile, and something bright and yellow changed hands.
1901. St. James's Gaz., 10 Ap., 3, 1. The Russian Squadron, by a timely appearance at Villefranche, followed by a visit of its chiefs to President Loubet at Nice, has at once testified to the solidarity of the Franco-Russian alliance, and avoided queering the pitch of the Italians at Toulon.
3. (common).—A short sleep; a nap.
Phrases: To pitch the hunters = to set up the three-sticks-a-penny business; to pitch it strong = to exaggerate, overdo, or embroider (q.v.) : to pitch and pay = to pay on the nail (at Blackwell Hall it was enacted that a penny be paid by the owner of every bale of cloth for pitching); to pitch in = (1) take a hand; (2) to start; and (3) to work hard; to pitch into = to attack; to pitch a tale (or fork) = to tell a story, romantic, playful, or pitiful; to pitch on = to select at random.
d.1580. Tusser, 145 [Nares]. Where strangers well may seem to dwell That pitch and pay.
1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., ii. 3. Let senses rule; the word is 'Pitch and pay'; Trust none.
1610. Mirror for Magistrates, 374. No creditor did curse me day by day, I used plainnesse, ever pitch and pay.
1651. Barlow, Remains (1693), 'To Rev. J. Goodwin.' It is this argument of yours I shall pitch on, And the rather because it hath been cry'd up.
