tit for tat
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tit \Tit\, n.
1. A small horse. --Tusser.
[1913 Webster]
2. A woman; -- used in contempt. --Burton.
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3. A morsel; a bit. --Halliwell.
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4. [OE.; cf. Icel. titter a tit or small bird. The word
probably meant originally, something small, and is perhaps
the same as teat. Cf. {Titmouse}, {Tittle}.] (Zool.)
(a) Any one of numerous species of small singing birds
belonging to the families {Paridae} and
{Leiotrichidae}; a titmouse.
(b) The European meadow pipit; a titlark.
[1913 Webster]
{Ground tit}. (Zool.) See {Wren tit}, under {Wren}.
{Hill tit} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of Asiatic
singing birds belonging to {Siva}, {Milna}, and allied
genera.
{Tit babbler} (Zool.), any one of several species of small
East Indian and Asiatic timaline birds of the genus
{Trichastoma}.
{Tit for tat}. [Probably for tip for tap. See {Tip} a slight
blow.] An equivalent; retaliation.
{Tit thrush} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of Asiatic
and East Indian birds belonging to {Suthora} and allied
genera. In some respects they are intermediate between the
thrushes and titmice.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
78 Moby Thesaurus words for "tit for tat":
agency, alternation, balance, ballast, battledore and shuttlecock,
blow for blow, change, coaction, commutation,
complementary distribution, concurrence, consideration,
cooperation, counterbalance, counterchange, counterpoise,
counterweight, cross fire, delegation, deputation, deputyship,
displacement, engagement, equipoise, equivalent, exchange,
give-and-take, interaction, interchange, intercommunication,
intercourse, interlacing, intermeshing, intermutation, interplay,
intertwining, interweaving, interworking, law of retaliation,
lex talionis, like for like, makeweight, measure for measure, mesh,
meshing, mutual admiration, mutual support, mutual transfer,
mutuality, offset, permutation, power of attorney, quid pro quo,
reciprocality, reciprocation, reciprocity, replacement,
representation, retaliation, seesaw, setoff,
something for something, something in return, something of value,
subrogation, substitution, supersedence, superseding, supersedure,
supersession, supplantation, supplanting, supplantment, switch,
talion, transposal, transposition, vicariousness
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