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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HATTER, v., n.¹ Also hattir, hat(h)er, haut(h)er. Cf. Hotter, v., n. [′hɑtər, ′hǫtər]

I. v. 1. To batter, knock about, lit. and fig., to treat roughly, to bully (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 103, 1866 Edm. Gl., Sh. 1956); to harass, vex, overtire (s.Sc. 1956). Ppl.adj. hattered, neglected, ill-used (Edm., Jak.); harassed (Rxb. 1954 Hawick News (18 June) 7; Rxb., Slk. 1956).Kcb. 1806 J. Train Poet. Reveries 49:
This hatters and chatters My very soul wi' care.Abd. 1902 E.D.D.:
I've hattered a' my hand wi' the saw.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 103:
He wid be suntin' ta geng an' hattir da twa eemages o' lambs new aff o' der midder.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
He was awfully hatter't wi' thae by-hoors. . . . He got a sair hatterin' wi' a' thae fashes.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 219:
Wi water fae da Urdar Fountain, De hattered ruit da Norns lave.Sc. 1995 David Purves Hert's Bluid 21:
Sum meisterie haes maerk't ye out
apairt frae ither weimen
ti synd awa aw fashiousness
an hael ma hattert sowl.

2. To collect in crowds, to swarm, to abound (Peb. 1956); to be covered thickly.Fif. 1825 Jam.:
To gather, to collect in crowds; as, “to hatter in the eaves” of a house.Dmb. 1846 W. Cross Disruption xxix.:
A Muir hattering thick wi quarries.

3. To move confusedly or laboriously, hence to work in a careless, slovenly or haphazard manner (Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1924 W. Lutton Montiaghisms 24, hather, hauther; Rxb. 1956).Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 52:
Washes; hatters; early, late, Puir, weary, wasted Megsie!Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 18:
A heh thae thochts ti faa back on . . . whan A hatter on, maist deeved an daivert an donnert wui the rummellin dunner o an eend-on bizz.

4. To speak thickly or confusedly (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

5. To impede, hinder, obstruct (Ork. 1929 Marw.); to detain (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); I.Sc. 1956).Sh. 1899 Shetland News (2 Sept.):
Luik at da gulfs 'at he's rütid at da partishin. . . . Doo'll hae ta pit suntin in his [pig's] nose. . . . Hit'll hatter him.

II. n. 1. A heterogeneous collection of things, a confused heap (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Knr., wm.Sc., Rxb. 1956); a swarm, e.g. of maggots (Fif. 1825 Jam.); a state of disorder (Sc. Ib.; m.Lth., Rxb., Slk. 1956), a place in such a state (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also used fig. = a smattering. Deriv. hattery, hat(e)ry, adj., disordered, tangled, n., muddle, confusion.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A hatry hesp, a hank of yarn that is entangled or disordered.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
“A hatter of stanes,” a heap of stones; “a hatter of berries,” a large cluster or great quantity crowded together, a confused heap.wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan 278:
Into a most spacious hall, and amang a perfect hatter of unkent faces.Gsw. 1868 J. Young Poems 120:
An' though o' Southerns I've a hatter O' fame possessed, The chiels that deal in Doric clatter Aye please me best.Fif. 1894 A. S. Robertson Provost 84:
In their criticisms [they] resented all corruptions or conglomerations [of ornamental styles]. The latter they scornfully designated “a hatter o' nonsense.”Per. 1902 E.D.D.:
Whatna hatery hae we here?Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 13:
Sic a hatter! A was in a habble.

2. Difficulty (Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 12, Rxb. 1956); struggle, flurry, fluster (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1956).Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 1:
Thir billies hed a sair hatter or they got the bruits weerd bye the cairts an hurl-barrihs an yirrint-vans.

3. A skin eruption, a rash (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Gen. in phr. to be in a hatter (Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.).Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 232:
I wish you saw my a —, its a' in ae hatter.

4. Hindrance, obstacle (Sh. 1956).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Hit is nae hatter for me to do so and so, there is nothing to hinder me from doing such and such.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Maerch 25):
A plain meetin-hoose is nae hatter ta raeverence; if shö's ticght.