Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ATTER, ETTER, n. [′ɑtər Sc.; ′ɛtər Rxb.; ′atər Cai.]
1. “Poison, poisonous matter, purulent matter from a sore” (Jam.6 1887 for Clydesdale).w.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Etter. Pus; suppurating matter.
2. “Ill-nature, quarrelsomeness” (D. B. Nicolson in County of Caithness 1907).
[Mid.Eng. atter, O.E. attor, shortened form of ātor, poison. Cogn. O.N. eitr, poison, bitterness, malice. Derivatives from these two have sometimes influenced each other. Cf. Attery.]
