Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1826, 1901-1902
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SWITTER, v., n. [′swɪtər]
I. v. 1. To struggle spasmodically like a drowning person, to splash or flounder about; of water: to plash, ripple; to splash (water) about (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.); to spill carelessly (Ork. 1972).Sc. 1826 The Twa Sisters in Child Ballads No. 10 D. xi.:
Aye she swittert and aye she swam, Till she cam to yon bonnie mill-dam.Arg. 1902 N. Munro Lost Pibroch 112:
The same tide swittering at the full on his foreshore.
2. To work in a confused, floundering or feeble manner, to potter, fuss about (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 188). Vbl.n., ppl.adj. switteran, -in (Ib.).
II. n. 1. A nervous or agitated state, a pother, flurry.Abd. 1901 Weekly Free Press (27 April):
He's aye in a constant swite and switter aboot evils.
2. A state of entanglement or confusion, an ineffective confused way of work, one who works in this way (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 188).
[O.Sc. switter, splashing, dabbling, 1694. Orig. chiefly imit., phs. influenced by swidder, Swither, v.1, n.1, in I.Sc. prob. rather representing Norw. dial. skvitra, to splash, dabble, a variant of skvitla, Swittle.]
