ditto, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

ditto n.

also dittoes

[SE ditto, the same. The style is common today, but less so when the sl. was coined]

a suit of clothes (jacket, waistcoat, trousers) all the same colour.

1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: A suit of ditto; coat, waistcoat, and breeches, all of one colour.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1855		Delhi Sketch Bk 1 Nov. 132/2: [cartoon caption] Mr Pimples [...] gets a new rig out [...] the latest thing in Dittos!
1863		T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act II: In a suit of grey dittoes, a-stepping out with another chap.
1879		‘’Arry on the River’ in Punch 9 Aug. 57/1: You’d a thought me a Turk in check dittos, and looked on your ’Arry with pride.
1880		H. Smart Social Sinners I 201: A slight, dark man, of middle height, clad in an ordinary suit of dittoes, entered the room.
1881		Herald (Melbourne) 24 Sept. 2/7: They Say [...] ‘Only two ten for a suit of superfine dittoes’.
1890		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer I 11: The labourers wore the same shoddy suits [...] the shabby-genteel people the same threadbare ditto.
1894		G.A. Sala London Up to Date 62: I should respectfully advise him [...] not to be in the habit of perambulating Pall Mall in a suit of dittoes and a pot hat.

In phrases

come the ditto (v.)

to do something repetitively.

1826

Pierce Egan’s Life in London 2 July 597/1: [H]e came the ditto, ditto, on January’s mug until be was knocked down .

ditto repeato

cod-Italian meaning the same again.

1882		Judy 6 Sept. 119/1: I had lamb and mint sauce on Sunday, ditto on Monday, ditto repeato on Tuesday, also for dinner and supper on Wednesday.
1895		Mirror of Life 30 Mar. 10/4: [N]ow we have another patron who takes in hand Jack Maloney, and does ditto repeato.
1902		Parlty Debates 225/1: The Address in Reply fell flat and died [...] the debate on the Financial Statement was ‘ditto repeato’.
1919		J.C. Snaith Undefeated 97: [T]wo fried eggs, a rasher of bacon, bread and butter and a cup of tea; in this case ditto repeato, once for himself, once for Melia.
1928		Queensland Industrial Gaz. 12 765/1: Public health fair at Cunnanulla, ditto repeato at Quilpie.
1934		W. Blyth How to Become a Conjurer 117: Again be careful of the floors, or it will be a case of ditto repeato.
1940		B. Regan in Cowper WSords of War [ebook] We have had a mobile gun [...] going round the Island, and firing a few rounds [...] then back again, ‘ditto repeato,’ to cheer us up or confuse the enemy.
1946		J. Devaney Washdirt 57: Sam: ‘Ditto repeato - that's Latin . Faint heart never won fair lady , as it says in the Bible . All — ’ Lanty: ‘And that’s true, too, begor’.
1961		Sthn Stars 120: [B]etter to stand on a box and point than have to go outside and ditto repeato.
2007		(con. c. 1900) T. Dixon Aus. Country Gardens 157/1: They would stay for perhaps a fortnight or three weeks and ‘ditto repeato’ until they returned to where they started.
2011		M. Lee Breaking/Making Up [ebook]‘I didn’t have a chance to break in thse shoes [...] and they’re killing me.’ ‘Ditto repeato,’ Kate groaned.
2023		D. Farmbrough When We Lived at Primrose Hill [ebook] ‘Let us have a toast to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.’ ‘Ditto Repeato,’ was Uncle David’s unfailing response.