different between ditzy vs ditty

English

Alternative forms

• ditsy

Etymology

Since early 1800's commonly used by Pennsylvania Dutch (Penslfawnisch Deitsch); possibly a borrowing from dialectal German dutzig, also dützig, ditzig (“numb, dazed, dizzy, as after having been punched; dull, stupid”), from dialectal dutzen (“to butt, hit, punch”). Compare German verdutzt (“dumbfounded”) and regional Dötsche (“bump, dent, bruise”). Unlikely, an alteration of dizzy, of American origin.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?tsi/

Adjective

ditzy (comparative ditzier, superlative ditziest)

1. (informal) Silly or scatterbrained, usually of a young woman.
   • 2011, Ellen Block, The Definition of Wind: A Novel, Bantam (?ISBN), page 31:

     The guy tossed some cash on the counter, then left with the ditzy girl and Abigail's fan.

   • 2013, Francisco Goldman, The Long Night of White Chickens, Grove Press (?ISBN), Seven:

     […] —and she'd smile like a primly mischievous Japanese girl, or like some slyly ditzy ingenue on a talk show, all the while watching her interrogator try to fathom (though sometimes they were pretty dim and just said, “Oh”) the surprising cleverness of her answer.

   • 2015, Thomas Lisanti, Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959–1969, McFarland (?ISBN), page 262:

     After hiring a crew of young guys and gals including loyal Jo, unlucky-in-love Frankie, strapping Bob, wisecracking Dee Dee, ditzy blonde Jonesy and titian-haired Penny, the gang drives up to the lodge.

Related terms

• ditz

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English dite, ditee, from Old French ditie or dité, from ditier, from Latin dict?re (participle dictatus).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?ti/
• Homophones: diddy (US)
• Rhymes: -?ti

Noun

ditty (plural ditties)

1. A short verse or tune.
   • 1636, George Sandys, Paraphrase upon the Psalms and Hymns dispersed throughout the Old and New Testaments

     And to the warbling lute soft ditties sing.

2. A saying or utterance, especially one that is short and frequently repeated.

Translations

Verb

ditty (third-person singular simple present ditties, present participle dittying, simple past and past participle dittied)

1. To sing; to warble a little tune.

   • Beasts fain would sing; birds ditty to their notes.

See also

• ditty bag
• doggerel
• jingle