Green’s Dictionary of Slang

ta-ta phr.

goodbye; also attrib.

1840		R. Barham ‘The Babes in the Wood’ in Ingoldsby Legends (1842) 190: They say their ‘Ta! Ta!’ as they start, / And they prattle so nice on their journey.
1844		A. Smith Adventures of Mr Ledbury II 46: You must come and see me, you know – no form, ta! ta!
1854		Delhi Sketch Bk 1 Oct. 126/2: ‘I shan’t play any more,’ said Augustus rising:‘ ta, ta, old boy. I’m sleepy’.
1857		Paul Pry (London) 15 Aug. n.p.: Look out, or D— v— ds— n will be on to you; ta ta for the present, baby.
1869		W. Bradwood O.V.H. III 195: ‘Ta-ta!’ said Algernon.
1877		‘’Arry on His ’Oliday’ in Punch 13 Oct. 161/1: Ta, ta! There’s a boat coming in.
1883		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 3 Nov. 6/2: ‘Ta, ta!’ cried the policeman gayly, as he sauntered up the avenue.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Jan. 6/2: Tramp: ‘Give me your money or your life!’ / Young Man: ‘My money is invested, and my life is insured.’ / […] Tramp: ‘Well, blame it, give me something.’ / Young Man: ‘I will give you my good day. Ta, Ta.’.
1888		R. Barnett Police Sergeant C 21 157: Well, ta, ta, till we meet again.
1890		Dead Bird (Sydney) 22 Feb. 3/2: So ta-ta old chappie, and may you be happy.
1896		S. Crane ‘Diamonds and Diamonds’ in Stallman (1966) 175: But the fat person [...] walked rapidly away. ‘Ta-ta, old boy,’ he cried.
1899		Boy’s Own Paper 22 Apr. 480: Ta-ta, Football, old boy, for Cricket’s the thing.
1904		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 7 Apr. 1/2: [headline] Ta Ta, Tommies [i.e. a ban on bookmakers].
1905		Sporting Times 11 Feb. 4/2: Ta-ta. May we soon meet at the tables, or the sessions, or somewhere. Yours totally, Johnny.
1915		TAD Indoor Sports 27 Aug. [synd. cartoon] Ta-ta old man. Hawf awtah 5. Ta-ta.
1918		Dagger [London] Dec. I 28/2: Ta-ta, Old Chap, Love to yourself and all the boys.
1929		E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 110: He said ‘ta ta to all the orphs.’.
1938		X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 69: Goodby lovey-ducks — tata pretty dear.
1940		H. Drake-Brockman Hot Gold I i: Tat-ta. See you later.
1950		C. Harris Three-Ha’Pence to the Angel 35: Ta-ta for now.
1959		D. Niland Big Smoke 14: ‘All right, mate, it’s your funeral.’ Mick Shannessey chuckled. ‘Ta-ta.’.
1966		P. Willmott Adolescent Boys of East London (1969) 170: I’m trying to change my accent, to sound my aitches and say [...] ‘Goodbye’ instead of ‘Ta-ta.’.
1977		(con. 1960s) Nicholson & Smith Spend, Spend, Spend (1978) 124: Ta ta, son, Mum’ll bring you something back.
1982		J. Sullivan ‘Diamonds are for Heather’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Bye then. Tata.
1996		J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 88: [He] took off across the road to the knockabout old Burlington rubbady for a ta-ta tipple with his old markets chinas .
2000		Guardian Editor 16 June 21: Ta ta for now.

In phrases

go ta-tas (v.)

(Aus.) in fig. use, to die.

1999

R.G. Barrett Wind & Monkey (2013) [ebook] ‘So who’s the lucky member of NSW’s finest that’s going ta-ta’s?