Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ROOTER, v., n. [′rutər]
I. v. Gen. with at, up: to work in a rough, careless and hurried manner, to build hurriedly in an insubstantial manner, to make up clothes hurriedly, to mend or patch in a rough, careless way (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 145). Hence vbl.n. and ppl.adj., rooteran, rooterin (Ib.).
II. n. 1. Rude, unskilful work (Ib.).
2. A person of boorish manners (Ib.).
[Orig. uncertain. A deriv. form, phs. from Eng. rout, confusion, disorder, or root, to poke or rummage about, to grub, like a pig.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Rooter v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rooter>
