Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FLUTHER, Fludder, n.2
1. A boggy piece of ground, a marsh (Cai. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.), in pl. as a place-name in Cupar (Fif.17 1952). Also in n.Eng. dial., esp. in place-names, in the form flother. Adj. fluthery, boggy, marshy (s.Sc. 1887 Jam.); flabby, soft (Ork. Ib.).Inv. 1732 in J. Noble Miscellanea Inv. (1902) 124:
Robert Scheviz of Muirtown deponed that the Pursuer struck up through a fluther that was on the way.Rs. 1765 N. Macrae Romance Royal Burgh 223:
The whole water may enter to and run through the fludder of Broad Pool towards the Sea.Ant. 1900 T. Given Poems 151:
An', then, how we wad scour, Jamie lad, Through fluther, glen, or moor, Jamie lad.
2. A slight rise or turbidity in a river, “a slighter change than what takes place in a spate” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Cf. Eng. dial. flodder, foam, half-dissolved snow.Abd. 1765 Session Papers, Middleton v. Magistrates Old Aberdeen (May) 16:
In great rains, it run in fludders, that is overflowed its bank.Ags. 1795 Session Papers, Arbuthnott v. Scott (11 March) 210:
There had been a fluther in the water.Per. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 26:
The muckle müne . . . Skimmers doun the Carse o' Gower An' the fluther o' the Tay.
3. “An abundance so great as to cause confusion; most commonly applied to bog-or meadow-hay, that grows very rank” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; 1923 Watson W.-B.).
[O.Sc. fludder, = 1., 1611, of doubtful orig. Phs. a deriv. of Flude, flood; see D, 4. 2. and 3. may possibly belong rather to Fluther, v., n.1]
