Tick-tack, subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation: see Greens and Ride.
c. 1550. Weaver, Lusty Juventus, D i. verso. What a hurly burly is here! Smicke smacke, and all thys gere! You will to tycke-tacke, I fere Yf thou had time.
Tiddipol, subs. (provincial).—'An overdressed fat young woman in humble life' (Halliwell).
Tiddle, verb. (colloquial).—1. To advance by slow degrees, or small motions: e.g., to tiddle a ball, a marble, a wheelbarrow, etc. Also TO TIDDLE A GIRL = to master her inchmeal. Whence tiddling = getting on bit by bit. Also (=) to potter; to fidget.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, 1. 322. To leave the family pictures from his sons to you, because you could tiddle about them, and though you now neglect their examples, could wipe and clean them with your dainty hands.
TIDDLIES. TO RUN TIDDLIES, verb. phr. (provincial).—To run over unsafe ice.
Tiddlywink, subs. (common).—An unlicensed house: a pawnbroker's (also LEAVING - SHOP, (q.v.), a beershop, a brothel, etc.
Verb. (Australian).—To spend more than prudence or custom will sanction.
1888. Boldrewood, Squatters Dream, vii. He's going too fast, that new boss . . . I wonder what old Morgan would say to all this here tiddlev-winkin', with steam engine, and wire fences. . . .
TIDY, subs. (common).—An antimacassar.
Adj. (colloquial).—Considerable; pretty large, fine, healthy, comfortable, important, etc.
c. 1360. William of Palerne [E.E. T.S.], 5384. Al that touched ther to a tidi erldome, To the kowherd and his wif the king 3af that time. Ibid., 1338. For the tidy tidinges that ti3tly were seide.
1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, August, 22. If weather be fair, and tidy thy grain, Make speedily carriage, for fear of a rain.
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 408. May be after a tidy day's work, I shall come home with 1s. in my pocket.
1887. Field, 23 July. There will probably be a tidy little fleet, representatives of the Mersey Canoe Club.
1899. Whiteing, John St., ix. Was you knocked about much when you was a young 'un? Pretty tidy, only I alwiz stepped it when it got too 'ot.
Verb. (colloquial).—To put (or place) in order; to make neat: usually to tidy UP: TIDY, adj. =neat (Grose) has long been recognised.
1853. Dickens, Bleak House, xxx. I have tidied over and over again, but it's useless.
1863. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, xliii. She found the widow with her house-place tidied up after the mid-day meal.
1889. Harpers Mag., lxxviii. 258. The small villages . . . have not the tidiness of the New England small villages.
Tie, verb. (old colloquial).—To marry; TO HITCH (q.v.); TO splice (q.v.). Hence A KNOT TIED WITH THE TONGUE THAT CANNOT BE UNTIED WITH THE teeth = matrimony.
1619. Fletcher, Wildgoose Chase, iv. 1. I heartily desire this courtesy . . . This day, to see you tied, then no more trouble you.
1668. Etheridge, She Would, etc., i. 1. Sir Oliv. Well, a pox of this tying men and women together, for better or worse.
Also PHRASES AND COLLOQUIALISMS: e.g., To tie one's hair (or wool) = to puzzle (tailors'); to tie up = (1) to forswear: e.g., TO TIE UP PRIGGING = to lead an honest life (thieves'); and (2) = to knock out (pugilists'); tied-up = (1) finished, settled; (2) = costive.
