~ 1
■ noun informal, chiefly Brit. a silly or foolish person.
Derivatives
~tish adjective
Origin
1930s (orig. dialect, in the sense 'tale-bearer'): perh. from ~ 2 .
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~ 2
■ verb ( ~s , ~ting , ~ted ) informal tease, especially good-humouredly.
Origin
OE ætwītan 'reproach with', from æt 'at' + wītan 'to blame'.