Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

COTTER, v.

1. tr. Of eggs: to stir them in a pan with butter till cooked (Sc. 1825 Jam.²; Ags.¹, Fif.¹ 1937).Fif. 1895 “S. Tytler” Macdonald Lass x.:
Flora boiled and “cottered” the eggs; Mrs Macdonald, Kirkiebost, sliced and toasted the cheese.

‡2. tr. “To entangle. Usually as pa.p. cotter'd” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

†3. intr. “To work in a weak, unskilful manner” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 221); “to potter about, do odd jobs” (Bnff. 1898 E.D.D.).

4. To keep company, fraternise, hobnob. But poss. a variant of Cuiter. Edb. 1871 J. Ballantine Poems 188: 
Oh, auld age and infancy cotter an' gree, When the wee tot sits crawin' on grandfaither's knee.