Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JATTER, v., n.

I. v. Of the teeth: to chatter. Also found in Eng. dial.Bnff. 1895 N. Roy Horseman's Word v.:
His teeth jatterin' and his face blue wi' cauld.

II. n. See quot. Cf. Chatter, n.¹, v.¹Kcb.⁴ 1900:
A jatter o' a thing is anything so cracked as to be ready to fall to pieces.