BS: Definition of 'Totty'.

12 Apr 10 - 12:14 AM (#2884574)
Subject: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: MGM·Lion

On the "bread roll" thread, I mentioned en passant the colloquial use of "crumpet" to mean "females regarded as sexual objects", stating "totty" to be a synonym. Chambers Dictionary, however, defines "totty" as "sexually attractive young people collectively", so implying that it is not a sex-specific term. I believe this to be wrong, and that the word can only apply to females and is never used of young men.

Who agrees? Or has anybody ever heard it used of young males regarded from a female perspective?

~Michael~

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12 Apr 10 - 12:27 AM (#2884578)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Rowan

Like "bint" and "crumpet", I've only heard "totty" applied to women, as synonyms for each other. But. while those of us in Oz know of such things, we tend to hear the terms used only by poms and usually only by poms in pommyland.

Cheers, Rowan

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12 Apr 10 - 02:41 AM (#2884621)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: GUEST,CS

'Totty', I've only ever heard used in relation to a nice looking young woman. 'Bit of stuff' I've heard in relation to both. For my sins, I find some of the old gender slang terms out there entertaining in a kinda post-ironic way. 'Bit of fluff' 'skirt' 'bint' etc., though I can't stand blokes who use 'it'.

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12 Apr 10 - 03:21 AM (#2884632)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Richard Bridge

Indeed, probably most used in the phrase "posh totty" to indicate upper middle class or higher attractive young women, with an implication of being kept by a relatively wealthy father.

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12 Apr 10 - 03:23 AM (#2884633)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: MartinRyan

So -- what's the origin of "totty"?

Regards

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12 Apr 10 - 03:47 AM (#2884640)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: MGM·Lion

Martin ~~ Chambers lists it as a derivative of 'tot' in sense of a small child; with presumably an overtone of the object being cherished as well as sexually exploited?

~Michael~

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12 Apr 10 - 07:15 AM (#2884718)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Lox

Maybe in the old days ... I have heard, and hearm young women talking and joking about male totty on many occasions.

I would suggest "tot" as in a Tot of Rum, just the tonic to snap one out of ones monotony and give one a little thrill.

However, a cursory glance at the net suggests various origins, including the possibility that it was a term used to refer to prostitutes, so MtheGM's assessment may well be right.

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12 Apr 10 - 07:29 AM (#2884725)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Lox

typo - should read "I have heard, and hear ... etc ..."

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12 Apr 10 - 08:29 AM (#2884743)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Jim Carroll

According to Partridge's Dictionary of Historical Slang a 'Tottie' is a high-class whore (1880s), There is a song, of course - in London Rhyming Slang.
I hope your interest is academic!
Jim Carroll

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12 Apr 10 - 10:42 AM (#2884809)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: EBarnacle

Back in the 70's there was a play put on at South Street Seaport, "Farewell My Totty." When I asked the author what Totty meant, he said "beloved."

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12 Apr 10 - 01:26 PM (#2884916)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Greyeyes

The OED has "A girl or woman, esp. a 'good-time' girl.", and as a draft entry also has "Brit. slang. As a mass noun: people (esp. women) collectively regarded as objects of sexual desire."
But the earliest example of the latter is 1985, Curtis/Elton, Blackadder.

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12 Apr 10 - 01:42 PM (#2884929)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Paul Burke

Asymptotty- a girl you can never quite get to.

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12 Apr 10 - 03:41 PM (#2884990)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: MartinRyan

Nice one , Paul!

Thanks for the Partridge reference, Jim - I hadn't gotten round to checking it. I have some old slang dictionaries and will check them out. My instinct says Dutch...

Regards

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12 Apr 10 - 04:53 PM (#2885030)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Jim Carroll

Hi Martin;
From Barrére's Dictonaty of Slang Jargon and Cant; A girl, a fast girl, a term of endearment, from English tot, anything small.
Farmer and Henley's Slang and Colloquial English: A high-class harlot; somewhat of an endearment.
Jim Carroll

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12 Apr 10 - 05:02 PM (#2885036)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Lox

Like the word 'Gay', the word 'totty' is evolving/has evolved, and has been reclaimed by young independant women to describe handsome men.

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13 Apr 10 - 08:13 AM (#2885488)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Jim Carroll

The song.
Jim Carroll

Tottie   (Musa Pedestris)

1 As she walked along the street
With her little plates of meat
And the summer sunshine falling on her golden Barnet Fair
Bright as angels from the skies
Were her dark blue Mutton Pies
In my East and West Dan Cupid shot a shaft and left it there.

2 She'd a Grecian I suppose
And of Hampstead Heath two rows
In her Sunny South they glistened like two pretty strings of pearls,
Down upon my bread and cheese
Did I drop and murmur 'Please
Be my storm and strife dear Tottie, O, you darlingest of girls'.

3 Then a bow wow by her side
Who 'til then had stood and tried
A Jenny Lee to banish, which was on his Jonahs Whale
Gave a hydrophobia bark,
She cried 'What a Noahs Ark'
And right through my rank and riches did my cribbage pegs assail.

4 Ere her bull dog I could stop
She had called a ginger pop
Who said 'What the Henry Meville do you think you're doing there' ?
And I heard as off I slunk,
'Why the fellow's Jumbo's Trunk'.
And the Walter Joyce was Totties with the golden Barnet Fair...

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13 Apr 10 - 02:16 PM (#2885718)
Subject: RE: BS: Definition of 'Totty'.
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Who stole the close html?

totty-headed Giddy, hare-brained.

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