twitter

Definition

The sound of a succession of chirps as uttered by birds.

Etymology

From Middle English twitren, twiteren, from Old English *twiterian, from Proto-West Germanic *twitwiʀōn, from Proto-Germanic *twitwizōną (“to chirp; twitter”). Cognate with Low German twitteren (“to twitter”), German zwitzern, zwitschern (“to twitter”). Compare also Dutch kwetteren (“to twitter”), Danish kvidre (“to twitter”), Swedish kvittra (“to twitter”), dialectal Swedish tittra (“to twitter”).

Example Sentences

• "I often listen to the twitter of the birds in the park."
• "Interline twitter occurs on interlaced displays at half the field-rate."