Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Probably from tip for tap 'tit for tat' (1500-1600), from tip 'light blow' ( TIP1) and tap 'light blow'

tit for tat

 noun
     
tit for tat [uncountable]
informal something bad that you do to someone because they have done something bad to you
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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