Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
WITTER, n.3, v.3 Also wutter; weeter-, wooter-. [′wɪtər, ′wʌtər; ′wɪtər-, ′wu-]
I. n. A sharp, active, restless, impatient person, freq. one of a somewhat waspish, cantankerous, pushing disposition (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., wutter; ne.Sc., Ags. 1974). Dims. wittrel, wutterel (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.), witterin (Bnff. 1930), and, of children, wutteroch, weeterykin, id. Adj. witterous, witterie, weeterus, wooterus, of a crabbed, pertinacious nature, venomous in temper (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 211; Mry., Bnff., Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.; ne.Sc. 1974).Mry. 1880 F. Sutherland Memories 212:
Though fortune — hang the wutterus witch — Ill luck upon me still keeps pilin'.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 93:
Gether up yer leaves an' mak' oot o' this, ye ill-brocht-up weeterykin.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 201:
He keepit yon aul' witterel Meg Forbes.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick i.:
'E caal's been some muckle for ye, ye wee bit wutteroch.Abd. 1993:
E hoosekeeper's a witterie kinna buddie.
II. v. 1. To be restless with impatience, to fidget, fret; to grumble, mutter as if annoyed (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); of a cat: to twitch its lips excitedly when stalking a prey (Dmf. 1920). Ppl.adj. wutterin, peevish, fretful (Abd. 1915), fidgeting (Per. 1958).Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 205:
She'll be sittin wutterin on her tea.Per. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
I was juist wutterin' tae get them tae the door.
2. To struggle, to carry on with difficulty, to earn one's living precariously (Kcd. 1825 Jam.). Phs. a different word.Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 107:
For whan I mindit on the hards That he had witter'd thro'.Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton 69:
He maun fecht an' witter a' the days o's life.Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 44:
Lat's wutter awa or the time weer roun For the road we've a' te gyang.Abd. 1957 Bon-Accord (7 Nov.) 6:
I hae nae doot ye'll witter throwe a' richt afore lang.
