ditty Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a short simple song (or the words of a poem intended to be sung)

WordNet

Dit"ty noun
Etymology
OE. dite, OF. ditié, fr. L. dictatum, p. p. neut. of dictare to say often, dictate, compose. See Dictate, v. t.
Wordforms
plural Ditties
Definitions
  1. A saying or utterance; especially, one that is short and frequently repeated; a theme.
    O, too high ditty for my simple rhyme. Spenser.
  2. A song; a lay; a little poem intended to be sung. "Religious, martial, or civil ditties." Milton.
    And to the warbling lute soft ditties sing. Sandys.
Dit"ty intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To sing; to warble a little tune.
    Beasts fain would sing; birds ditty to their notes. Herbert.

Webster 1913