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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NATTER, v., n. Also nya(u)tter; n(j)at(te)r (Jak.); gnatter, ne(a)tter; nit(te)r-. See also Yatter. [′n(j)ɑtər, Ags. + ′nɛtər]

I. v. 1. To chatter, esp. in an irritating or nagging manner, to nag, grouse, keep grumbling peevishly (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 367; Dmf. (nyatter), Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 119; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Gen.Sc. Ppl.adj., vbl.n. nyatterin, complaining, grousing, given to aimless chattering, esp. when others are speaking (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 367; ne.Sc. 1963); peevish grumbling (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 119; ne.Sc. 1963); nyattered, spoken in a grumbling, nagging way (Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 37); nitteret, nit(t)ret, ill-natured, sulky-looking, crusty (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.). Also fig. Only dial. or colloq. in Eng.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 18:
My heart aft natters gaunt wi' spleen.Sc. 1824 Scots Mag. (April) 478:
Ye're aye girn, girning, and fash, fashing, and spier, spiering, and gnatter, gnattering.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 5:
Oor forebears an ther Southron neebers . . . war everly natterin an fechtin.Ags. 1930 A. Kennedy Orra Boughs ii.:
He did know what thoughts breenged through it [the brain], what shauchled, what ga'ed netter-netter-netter.Abd. 1934 D. Scott Stories and Sk. 25:
He's an awfu' nyatterin' vratch files.ne.Sc. 1950 W. Kemp Cornkisters 5:
If there's naethin' on earth tae grunt aboot, he'll neatter at the meen.Kcd. 1957 Mearns Leader (20 Sept.):
Him an' his better half hae nyattered wi' ane an' ither mornin' neen, an' nicht a' the time!

Hence (g)natterie, n(y)at(te)rie, -y; nyatrach(y) (Mry.¹ 1925), nitterie (Jam.; Marw.), -y, peevish, crabbed, cantankerous, irascible, given to sharp caustic talk (Abd., Kcd. 1825 Jam.; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I. and ne.Sc., Kcb., Rxb. 1963). Also in n.Eng. dial.; fig. nagging, tormenting; of soil: stony, poor (Abd.¹⁵ 1928). Cf. Chattery, id.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 163:
Whyles her gnattery tongue is a desperate fash to me.Abd. 1904 W. A. G. Farquhar Fyvie Lintie 137:
Fashed wi' nyattery colic pain.Bch. 1946 J. C. Milne Orra Loon 9:
Mains is nyattery nyattery and as crabbit as a wife.

2. To nibble into small pieces, esp. of a mouse (ne.Sc. 1963). Also in Eng. dial.

3. To work slowly and ineffectually, to potter; of a mill: to grind slowly and unevenly (Sh. 1963).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De mill is nat(te)rin. . . . Shø (de mill) is only nit(te)rin aboot.

4. To drizzle, esp. along with a high wind (Cai. 1903 E.D.D., nyatter; Ork. 1929 Marw., nitter). Hence nyatterie, drizzly, windy and showery (I.Sc. 1963).Sh.⁴ 1931:
It's been a cowld nyatterie kind o a day.

II. n. 1. Grousing, nagging talk, aimless chatter (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 119; Kcb.¹1900; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Gen.Sc.Abd. 1933 J. H. Smythe Blethers 54:
Bit ailin' fouks' nyatter he tholed wi' gweed grace.

2. A crabbed, nagging person, a continual chatterer (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh.⁴ 1931; Sh., ne., sm. and s.Sc. 1963). Hence natterel, id. (Fif. 1919 T.S.D.C.). Comb.: ¶natter-wurr, id. (Ib.).Abd.³⁰ 1958:
I canna stick 'er, she's sic an awfu nyatter.