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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KELTER, v., n.² Also kilder, kilter. [′kɛltər]

I. v. ‡1. intr. (1) To tilt up.Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
A balance is said to kelter, when the one end of the beam mounts suddenly upwards; or when a cart, in the act of unyoking, escapes from the hold, so that the shafts get too far up.

(2) To wriggle, move with an undulating motion, to move uneasily, as a queasy stomach (Sc. 1825 Jam.), to struggle violently, as a fish on a hook (Per. 1825 Jam.). Also fig. Found in Eng. dial. Now only poet.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Eels are said to kelter in the water when they wamble. The stomach or belly is also said to kelter, when there is a disagreeable motion in either.Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 56:
And clots o' bluid loup oot frae stems That back into the jungle rin, Or in the waters underneath Kelter like seaweed.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 33:
And first he sklent the heided snake: He sklent it strauchtly into twa And kelterin' they skail'd awa.

(3) To tumble headlong, to go head over heels, to fall (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.); to totter (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1959). Also fig.Rxb. 1805 A. Scott Poems 16:
The twasome warsel'd here and there, Till owre a form they kelter'd.Rxb. 1807 J. Ruickbie Way-side Cottager 93:
Though soul an' conscience baith should kelter.Per. 1878 R. Ford Hame-spun Lays 36:
“Your Rev'rence,” quo' Wattie, his heart like tae kelter.m.Sc. 1998 Lillias Forbes Turning a Fresh Eye 6:
'Twas Esk or Teviot keltered doon
I mind nae mair -
But the same sang cam' soughin tae oor lugs
An' thunnered there!

2. tr. To overturn, upset (Fif., Rxb. 1825 Jam.), to cause to fall headlong. Also fig.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 175:
Town of Ayr, helped him I declare, The honest true blue for to kelter.Ags. 1897 G. A. Mackay Where the Heather Grows 38:
“Fu's puss, Miss Betty?” I then asked. “Fine, thank ye.” “I'm sorry I kiltered her.”Ags., Per. 1919 T.S.D.C.:
If ye tak muckle o' that ye'll kelter yer stammack.

II. n. 1. A fall in which one is thrown head over heels (Ayr. 1825 Jam.; ‡Slk. 1959).Ayr. 1809 W. Craw Poet. Epistles 51:
But mind he got an unco kelter.Dmf. 1954:
He got a kelter aff the horse.

2. A twist, a kink.Kcb.⁴ 1900:
Making a twisted sheet of iron straight is called “takin' the kelter oot o' it.”