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Topic Options #209841 - 02/28/13 10:04 AM teat Olephredd stranger Registered: 07/26/10 Posts: 2 Loc: WA The word "teat" is usually pronounced "tit" as presented by Websters Collegiate Dictionary and others, but sometimes it is pronounced "teet" by intellectuals including, recently, Dr Charles Krauthammer on a national television network. Dr Krauthammer's use of the English language is usually masterful, so I doubt he made a simple mistake. Is "teet" an acceptable alternative pronunciation? If so, where does it come from? Top #209843 - 02/28/13 10:26 AM Re: teat [Re: Olephredd] tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 10463 Loc: this too shall pass 'teet' is the preferred pronunciation according to AHD4 (and the only pron. given by OED); tit is a slang form which reverts to Old English (tit generally given from G. zitze). Top #209847 - 02/28/13 02:22 PM Re: teat [Re: tsuwm] zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Registered: 08/13/05 Posts: 3269 Loc: R'lyeh Actually, the Old English word was tit, and it is related to German Zitze, not derived from it. The Middle English word tete is borrowed from the Old French tette which in turn is borrowed from a Germanic language, as are the Italian and some other Romance words, replacing Latin mamilla. (Note that in French, Latin, and Old English, the various words leaned more towards meaning 'nipple' more than 'breast'. _________________________ Ceci n'est pas un seing. Top #209849 - 02/28/13 02:39 PM Re: teat [Re: zmjezhd] Rhubarb Commando old hand Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 1030 Loc: Lancaster, UK In the UK. 'teet' is the generally accepted pronunciation of 'teat'. Often used to refer to the rubber device on the top of a feeding bottle, rarely (never?) used to refer to a real nipple. - certainly never used to mean 'breast.' _________________________ I'm immortal until proven otherwise Top #209851 - 02/28/13 02:51 PM Re: teat [Re: Rhubarb Commando] olly old hand Registered: 12/18/06 Posts: 932 Loc: Auckland, New Zealand rarely (never?) used to refer to a real nipple. cepting cows and the like Top #209853 - 02/28/13 03:47 PM Re: teat [Re: olly] zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Registered: 08/13/05 Posts: 3269 Loc: R'lyeh cepting cows and the like Yes, the only time I've heard teat used in the States has been on dairy farms and the like. On the other hand, tit nowadays refers to the entire breast. _________________________ Ceci n'est pas un seing. Top #209854 - 02/28/13 05:35 PM Re: teat [Re: zmjezhd] LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/08 Posts: 5288 Loc: Land of the Flat Water Originally Posted By: zmjezhd cepting cows and the like Yes, the only time I've heard teat used in the States has been on dairy farms and the like. On the other hand, tit nowadays refers to the entire breast. concur, here in the heartland. _________________________ ----please, draw me a sheep---- Top #209879 - 03/02/13 01:59 PM Re: teat [Re: Olephredd] Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/24/02 Posts: 7184 Loc: Vermont tiht when tit, teet when teat. tits are boobs, teats are on a cow (and the like). _________________________ formerly known as etaoin... Top Previous Topic Index Next Topic Preview Hop to: General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. (have been consolidated into a single forum above) ------   Words from medicine   Beheading words   Meta-words   Words from classical mythology   Animal Safari   Words with unusual etymologies   Eponyms or words derived from people's names.   Loanwords from German   English as a global language Moderator:  Jackie  Print Topic Switch to Threaded Mode View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM View homepage Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM View homepage Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM View homepage Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM View homepage Add to your Watched Users View posts Forum Stats 8424 Members 16 Forums 13686 Topics 209780 Posts Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM Newest Members teepee, smoothcriminal86, janbra, junebug, Stephen A 8423 Registered Users Who's Online 1 registered (wofahulicodoc), 23 Guests and 1 Spider online. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters (30 Days) LukeJavan8 85 jenny jenny 58 wofahulicodoc 55 endymion6 48 Rhubarb Commando 36 BranShea 34 Buffalo Shrdlu 15 zmjezhd 13 Faldage 12 Jackie 12 May Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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