Ditty

n. [A-S. diht, ge-diht, said, dictated, dihtan, to dictate, D. dicht, Ger. gedicht, O. H. Ger. dihta, a poem, Lat. dictum, something said, a saying, word, maxim, from dicere, to say; dictare, to say often, dictate. Cf. DIT.]

1Sense 1. A saying or utterance; especially, one that is short and repeated. [Obs.]

O, too high ditty for my simple rhyme. Spenser.

To be dissolved and be with Christ, was his dying ditty. Browne.

2Sense 2. A song; a sonnet; especially, a little poem intended to be sung. “Religious, martial, or civil ditties.” Milton.

And to the warbling lute soft ditties sing. Sandys.

To sing; to warble a little tune. Birds ditty to their notes. Herbert.