nitty adj.
a general epithet of abuse.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Pierce Pennilesse 20: A malecontent Cutpursse [...] cannot his stabbing dagger, or his nittie loue-locke, keepe him out of the Legend of fanatasticall cockcombs. | |
| Poetaster n.p.: I’le know the poore, egregious, nitty Rascall. | |
| Virgin-Martyr III iii: Sure thy father was some botcher, and thy hungry tongue bit off these shreds of complaints, to patch up the elbows of thy nitty eloquence. | |
| Crabtree Lectures 50: Thou lousie nitty Tayler. | |
| New Brawle 7: [T]hou Villaine, thou nitty Breech’d Knave. | |
| Mercurius Fumigosus 34 17–24 Jan. 268: A one-ey’d Tool-man, called a Taylor, being sore troubled with a Hunting Wife, that would nether let him lick his Thimble, nor winde up his Bottom in quiet, but would follow him open-mouth’d, calling him drunken Roague, Nitty-breech’d Roague. | |
| Lady Alimony IV ii: Doth your Mistress take us, you nitty-napty Rascal, for her Bordella’s Blouses? | |
| The French conjurer 15: A Pox take that nitty confounded French man. | |
| London Spy VII 154: Hold your Tongues you Knitty radish-mongers. | |
| Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 71: You nitty, lousy, hump-back’d toad. |
In compounds
a general insult suggesting a lower-status target, actual nits may not be present.
| Penny-vvis[e] pound foolish n.p.: Away you lowzie Slaue, cried the Pandar, my Mistresse a companion for such a Nitty-breech as thou art, to talke to her! | |
| A sea-cabbin dialogue 10: [C]all me Foole, Nitty-breech, Ninny-hammer, Cocks-cumbe, or any thing what thou wilt. |