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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TROTTLE, v. Also trootle (Ayr. 1825 Jam.), trutle (Dmf., Id.), truitle (Sh.).

1. To toddle, walk with short quick steps, e.g. of a child learning to walk (Ayr., Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1915; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also fig. and transf. of liquid: to ripple, flow, glide.w.Lth. 1881 H. Shanks Musings 345:
I'll gar a brimming bumper trottle To you, my friend.Lnk. 1882 A. Nimmo Songs 157:
Keep thy clatherin' tongue That trottles in thy head.

2. To dawdle, idle, waste one's time (Kcb. 1921 T.S.D.C., truitle; sm.Sc. 1973).

3. To simmer, to bubble in boiling.Ags. 1821 J. Ross Peep at Parnassus 16:
The cauthron trottelt on the sods.

[The three meanings have been combined chiefly because of formal similarity but may be orig. three different words, 1. a freq. form of trot, with onomat. variants influenced by drittle, dru(i)tle, Driddle, to which 2. may also be referred, 3. being assimilated from Tottle, v.1]

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