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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jul 2010
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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?
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
'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).
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
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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.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,075 |
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
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956 |
rarely (never?) used to refer to a real nipple.
cepting cows and the like
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
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.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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----
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
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tiht when tit, teet when teat.
tits are boobs, teats are on a cow (and the like).
formerly known as etaoin...
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