tat

Etymology 1

From Hindi टाट (ṭāṭ, “thick canvas”).

noun

1. (uncountable, Britain) Cheap and vulgar tastelessness; sleaze.
2. (uncountable, Britain) Cheap, tasteless, useless goods; trinkets.
3. (countable, India) Gunny cloth made from the fibre of the Corchorus olitorius (jute).

Etymology 2

Unknown. Perhaps the same as etymology 1, above, or perhaps a back-formation from tatting. Attested since the 19th century.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To make (something by) tatting.

Etymology 3

From Hindi टट्टू (ṭaṭṭū, “pony”).

noun

1. (India, archaic) A pony.
   And so each morning before daybreak I am up, and having dispatched my luggage on the backs of coolies after much noise and bustle, without which no natives can work, I mount my tat as the sun begins to touch the higher hills, and start on my morning ride of twelve miles. 1879, Val Cameron Prinsep, Glimpses of Imperial India, page 206

Etymology 4

Clipping of tattoo; see further etymology there.

noun

1. (slang) A tattoo.

verb

1. (slang) To apply a tattoo.
   2016 May 5, Fifth Harmony, “Write on Me”, 7/27, Epic Records, Sysco Music Write on me / Love the way you tat me up

Etymology 5

noun

1. (UK, gambling, slang, archaic) Alternative form of tatt (“a die, especially one that is loaded”)

Etymology 6

noun

1. Alternative form of tatty (“kind of woven mat or screen”)

Etymology 7

noun

1. Some small thing, especially that which is exchanged tit for tat.
   The article seems an attempt at tit-for-tat; but there is too little tat, even in Bedouins, to provoke such a maze of tit as is found in “'Bedouins' and Nomads.” 1920, The Creighton Chronicle, page 294
   … insecurity, anger engender the excessive retaliation of two tits for a tat that leads not to damping-down but to [escalation]. 1999-05-18, D. Reisman, Conserative Capitalism: The Social Economy, Springer, page 122
   At the U.S. planning sessions, it was not uncommon to hear someone say, "Just remember, when you're negotiating tit-for-tat, it's better to concede the occasional small tat to your opponent and keep the big tits for yourself." 2002-05-01, G.H. Spaulding, C-C-Cold War Syndrome Or, Remember, It's Break Ground and Fly into the Wind, AuthorHouse
   Not tit-for-tat, but more like ten tits for every tat. 2006 08, Michael Riggs, Edicts of Ares: 13 Absolute Rules of Warfare, Xlibris Corporation, page 112
   “Yeah...and a tiny little tat of a bottle of Grinness on his ankle...” As they rode, a warm-front chased the clouds away and the direct sun and warming air began to melt the snow. 2011-03-20, Thunderhead, The Sacred Clown, Thunderhead, page 475
   If that was a lot of tit for a little tat it didn't bother the French. In the absence of any firm policy in Paris, the military commanders in Algeria began promoting French settlement. 2012-04-17, Gerald L'Ange, The White Africans: From Colonisation To Liberation, Jonathan Ball Publishers
   "Why don't you two sit out on the porch while I clean up this little tat of dishes," Gram said. Corrie argued for a minute, but Gram shooed her away and reluctantly we found ourselves alone on the porch swing. (Can we date this quote?), Pamela Morsi, Suburban Renewal, Oliver-Heber books
   A little tit for a little tat. He just wanted to get his damned tit so he could be done with the nasty tat. There was an odd shimmer among the shadows, then the outline of Briggs appeared, his crimson eyes glowing like the pits of hell. 2021-06-29, Alexandra Ivy, Guardians of Eternity Bundle 2, Zebra