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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLOTTER, v., n. [′slotər]

I. v. 1. To act in a slovenly manner, to work messily in a liquid, to be messy and slothful (Lth. 1808 Jam.); to hang about in an idle way, “to pass the time idly or sluggishly” (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Hence slottry, slottery, adj., lazy, inactive, slothful (Lth. 1808 Jam.). Phr. to slotter wi (a thing or person), to fuss around, to have a great to-do with, molly-coddle (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 168).Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 14:
yet I maun rise abuin the lair o wanrufe
or slutter in't, wae-gowpin, a slottery coof. Fif. 1991 William Hershaw in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 166:
The year turns like a hearse wheel, sweir
Ti win the slottry world awo fae deith,
Ti rax a resurrection, speir
Despair and horror brak wi the Sun's bricht breith

2. To slobber in eating, to eat or drink noisily or disgustingly (Rxb., Bwk., Slk. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 169); to grub about in water like a duck. Comb. slotter hodge, one who eats messily, a dirty or disgusting person (Rxb. 1825 Jam.). See Hodge, n., 3.Slk. 1823 Hogg Perils of Woman I. 100:
Ye mun lerne to slotter for yoursell like the young dooks, an' pick up sic a paddow as ye can get.

II. n. 1. The act of eating, walking or working in some liquid, sloppy matter, the noise made in so doing (Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 168); one who works in a sloppy slovenly fashion (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

2. A nasty mess, a filthy, disgusting mass (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 168).