Tit

Origin of: Tit

Tit

Tit meaning a female breast is one of the oldest slang words in the language and dates from the 11th century, from Old Germanic/Anglo-Saxon roots. The more acceptable word teat dates from much later, from the 13th century, and derives from Anglo-Norman French tete meaning head referring more to the nipple than the breast. Both tit and teat are clearly related, but the former retains its vulgarity while the latter does not. From the early 20th century, tit was also slang for a fool or buffoon. Tit as in the species of bird comes from a completely different etymological root and dates from the 1500s.