twit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun someone who is regarded as contemptible
    twirp; twerp.
  2. noun aggravation by deriding or mocking or criticizing
    taunt; taunting.
  3. verb harass with persistent criticism or carping
    rag; razz; bait; tantalize; taunt; ride; tease; cod; rally; tantalise.
    • The children teased the new teacher
    • Don't ride me so hard over my failure
    • His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie

WordNet

Twit transitive verb
Etymology
OE. atwiten, AS. ætwitan to reproach, blame; æt at + witan to reproach, blame; originally, to observe, see, hence, to observe what is wrong (cf. the meanings of E. animadvert; akin to G. verweisen to censure, OHG. firwizan, Goth. traweitan to avenge, L. videre to see. See Vision, Wit.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Twitted; present participle & verbal noun Twitting
Definitions
  1. To vex by bringing to notice, or reminding of, a fault, defect, misfortune, or the like; to revile; to reproach; to upbraid; to taunt; as, he twitted his friend of falsehood.
    This these scoffers twitted the Christian with. Tillotson.
    Æsop minds men of their errors, without twitting them for what is amiss. L'Estrange.

Webster 1913