* It's likely an old saying. The idiom predates widespread literacy, so its origins are mostly passed down through oral tradition.
* Witches were often associated with the cold. In folklore, witches were frequently linked to darkness, winter, and ice. This likely contributed to the association of witches with coldness.
* The "teat" part is less clear. Some theories suggest:
* It refers to a witch's breast. In some folklore, witches were believed to steal milk from cows or even babies, which might connect to the idea of a cold, empty teat.
* It's a symbolic representation of coldness. "Teat" might have been a way to symbolize a point of coldness, like a cold nose or a cold finger.
* It's a corruption of a different word. Some scholars suggest the word "teat" might be a corruption of another word, like "thistle" or "tether," but this theory is less widely accepted.
It's important to remember that the idiom is a figurative expression. It's not meant to be taken literally or to represent any real-world connection between witches and coldness.
Ultimately, the exact origin of the phrase is unknown. However, its use in English literature and oral traditions suggests its roots lie in the association of witches with coldness and its development through folklore and popular imagination.