Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FISTER, n. A left-handed, awkward person, used attrib. in quot. of a piper who plays on the chanter with his left hand and places the drones over his right shoulder.Sc. 1965 Weekly Scotsman (18 Feb.) 2:
Fister pipers have been with us for a long time. Long before the First World War, my late father was one of a whole front row of fister pipers.
[Prob. from *carfister, = carhander, id., s.v. Car, adj., 1. (4). Cf. Fisty.]
