c. 1400, tatrys (plural) "slashed garments," from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse töturr "rags, tatters, tattered garment," cognate with Old English tættec, tætteca "rag, tatter." Related: Tatters.
Entries linking to tatter
tatterdemalion n.
"ragged child, person dressed in old clothes," c. 1600, probably from tatter (n.), with fantastic second element, but perhaps also suggested by Tartar, with a contemporary sense of "vagabond, gypsy."
tattered adj.
mid-14c., tatrid, "clad in slashed garments," from tatter (n.) or its Scandinavian source.
tatty adj.
1510s, "tangled or matted" (of hair), Scottish, probably related to Old English tættec "a rag" (see tatter (n.)). The sense of "tattered, ragged, shabby" attested by 1933.