Tityre-tu

noun

¦titərē¦t(y)ü

plural -s

: one of a gang of roistering brawling young blades in 17th century London similar to the Mohocks

Word History

Etymology

from Latin Tityre tu (patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi) Tityrus, thou reclining beneath the shelter of the spreading beech tree, opening line of the 1st Eclogue of Vergil; from their being regarded as wealthy and idle

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