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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PAITER, v 2 Sc. form of Eng. patter, to move with short, light, fussy steps. Also reduplic. form paiter-paiter, id. Ppl.adj. paiterin, walking or working aimlessly, trifling, pottering. [′petər]Ayr. 1828 D. Wood Poems 13:
But fare ye weel at last auld Catrine There's mony a ane about ye patterin'.w.Sc. 1880 Jam.:
He has just paiter-paitered out an' in a' day.

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