Do you know what tittivate means?

[PCPlumsTruncheon]

Very very long backstory but my DM and DF went to visit DD today and then came to see me and told me that DD had planned a morning of tittivating as she was going to a wedding reception but her plans were thwarted by the water being cut off.
I am a bit of a grammar/spelling geek but had genuinely never heard of this word and thought that DM was getting it mixed up with ‘tittilate’.
How many of you (without Googling) know what this word means?

[missclimpson]

The origin apparently: Early 19th century (in early use, also as tidivate): perhaps from tidy, on the pattern of cultivate.

[missclimpson]

What would the modern word be?

[DrinkReprehensibly]

I didn't know it either Op. You're not the only one.

[bettyblueeyes83]

Yes my mum would use it for anything from plumping the cushions to redecorating - along with a near-synonym that I've never known how to spell - 'zjuzj up'? The sound at beginning and end is pronounced like the s in 'measure'. Anyone else say this or know how it should be spelled?!

'Go and zjuzj up the front room before your grandparents arrive.' 'I'll be ready in five minutes, I'm just going to zjuzj myself up a bit.'

[Waddsup12]

Lovely word!

[ScreamingValenta]

I know it from exactly the same source as @Q1w2e3.

[onemouseplace]

Yes, I associate with cushion plumping as well, and also getting ready to go out, so putting a bit of lippy on etc.

My family are all from Lincolnshire and it's definitely a word I heard a lot growing up.

[MissSingerbrains]

Yes, it’s a word DH occasionally uses and I hate it

[TillyTheTiger]

betty according to a quick google it's zhuzh or zhoosh. Which is a blast from the past for me - my elderly relative used to use it and I've not heard it since she died.

[bettyblueeyes83]

We're from Lincolnshire too onemouse.

Thanks Tilly good to know it's not just me! Love that word.

[IsadoraQuagmire]

Of course, surely it's a common expression?

[Spartacunt]

Am I the only one who thinks of Ken Dodd when I hear the word titivate?

[CrispbuttyNo1]

I’m northern. Both my parents used this word regularly. As do I.

DP is from London, he says he’s heard the word but doesn’t know what it means.

[LBOCS2]

I'm a Christmas tree titivator too (titivater? Spell check doesn't like either).

And yes, I know what it is. We definitely heard it growing up too (London).

[AmateurSwami]

Yes, like juj (sp?) it up a bit.

[AornisHades]

I occasionally use it. It always makes me think of hats and make up.

[RB68]

def means faffing about to make things look good so garden, house, person for event etc

[Crinkle77]

Yep I have heard it

[Danglingmod]

See, if you don't use "titivate", I'm sure what alternative there is?

[NooNooTheNotSoGreat]

I'm in Scotland and I've never heard it.

[daisypond]

Yes, I use it quite often.

[haverhill]

Yes I know the word and its meaning and use it occasionally.

[DramaAlpaca]

I know the word titivate & use it occasionally. My Cumbrian mum uses it so I picked it up from her. It's a great word, as is zhuzh.

[OhtheHillsareAlive]

Know what it means, and it's spelt* 'titivate'

• there's a debate re 'spelt' and 'spelled' for past tense of 'spell' - Uk English or US English. Now that I would have to look up.
  
  But 'titivate' is a fairly ordinary word, I'd have thought. Quite surprised someone hasn't come across it before ...

[HollowTalk]

Yes, it's an ordinary word!