After that a mighty washing of hands took place, to remove the blacking stain; and then the Quarters settled down to a general "titivation," Tam "cleaning his nails for Christmas," amid great applause. From Wordnik.com. [We of the Never-Never] Reference
So there would seem to be ample precedent for adopting titivation as the word to describe tidying on the go. From Wordnik.com. [Word Fugitives] Reference
They were all intent as artists at a canvas, Jeendan pouting critically at the mirror and directing the maid to touch up the corner of her mouth; then they all stood back to admire the result before making another titivation - and beyond the purdah her army coughed and shuffled and waited and Maka Khan ploughed on. From Wordnik.com. [Flashman And The Mountain Of Light]
They were all intent as artists at a canvas, Jeendan pouting critically at the mirror and directing the maid to touch up the corner of her mouth; then they all stood back to admire the result before making another titivation — and beyond the purdah her army coughed and shuffled and waited and Maka Khan ploughed on. From Wordnik.com. [Flashman and the Mountain of Light]
I hope my reply to Fitz may arrive in time to prevent too much titivation. From Wordnik.com. [Gallipoli Diary, Volume I] Reference
She is losing a large part of what Chesterfield calls the 'joy and titivation of youth.'. From Wordnik.com. [Woman and the Republic — a Survey of the Woman-Suffrage Movement in the United States and a Discussion of the Claims and Arguments of Its Foremost Advocates] Reference
(It was a first taste of print that Mark gets in Fowler, if you are wondering about that titivation.). From Wordnik.com. [VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XI No 4] Reference
It ain't goin 'to consoome a moment, however, -- this yere titivation I plans; an' followin 'said improvements we-all better pull off this play some prompt. From Wordnik.com. [Wolfville Nights] Reference
The thought of titivation. From Wordnik.com. [Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 152, February 7, 1917] Reference
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