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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ALTER, v.2 (See quot.)Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Alter, to hesitate; waver; to think twice before doing something, to a. to do a ting.

[Prob. from O.N. haltra, to halt, limp. Jak. says there is a difference in pronunciation between the Eng. and Sh.word, the latter having a strong breath before l.]

569

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