Tityre Tus
Preserved but no longer current.
Dissolute young scapegraces of the late 17th century (cp. MOHOCKS) whose delight was to annoy the watchmen, upset sedans, wrench knockers off doors, and insult pretty women. The name comes from the first line of Virgil's first Eclogue, Tityre, tu patulce recubans sub tegmme fagi, because the Tityre Tus loved to lurk in the dark night looking for mischief.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Tityre Tus” mean?
Dissolute young scapegraces of the late 17th century (cp. MOHOCKS) whose delight was to annoy the watchmen, upset sedans, wrench knockers off doors, and insult pretty women. The name comes from the first line of Virgil's first Eclogue, Tityre, tu patulce recubans sub tegmme fagi, because the Tityre Tus loved to lurk in the dark night looking for mischief.
Is “Tityre Tus” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.