Titmouse
/ˈtɪt.maʊs/noun
A small songbird of the family Paridae.
Did you know?The second half of the name was added by folk etymology: the bird’s original name was simply tit, from an old word for something small, and later speakers attached mouse because the bird is tiny and mouse-like.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
tita / titt
“A small thing; a tiny bird-name element used for smallness”
Middle English
ME
tit
“A small bird, especially one of the tit family”
Late Middle English
ME
titmous
“A small bird; later reshaped by association with mouse”
16th Century
English
titmouse
“The modern bird name, with mouse added by folk etymology”
Modern English
English
titmouse
“Any of several small passerine birds in the tit family”