Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CHATTER, v.1, n.1 [′tʃɑtər]
1. v. “To divide a thing by causing many fractures, to break suddenly into small pieces” (Abd. 1825 Jam.2); “to shatter” (Uls.3 1930). Known to Bnff.2, Abd.2, Abd.8 1939.Sc. 1717 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1908) 618:
The milne wheell is useless being broken, and the walk-milne wheel chattered and broken.Gsw. 1736 J. Hill Memorabilia (1835) 498:
Several parts of the wall chattered and disordered.
Hence chattery, breakable, friable, made of clay, porcelain or the like. Also chattrie, Chattery ware, dishes. Ayr. 1821 C. Lockhart Poems 75:
When we cam hame at e'en . . . [Ye] brought your tanker to the boil And washed the chattrie clean.
A Dresser and Rack and a quantity of Chattery ware.
2. n. “The act of shattering” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 218).
[Given in D.O.S.T. as a variant of schatter, 1669. Cf. L.Ger. schateren, v., as above (Franck).]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Chatter v.1, n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/chatter_v1_n1>
