Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1822-1836, 1908-1931
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‡ETTER, n., v. Also (j)eder, eter (Jak.) and see Atter. [′ɛtər Sc., Sh. + ′ɛdər]
1. n.
(1) Pus, suppurating matter (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); venom, poison (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl., eder). Hence comb. et(t)er frod, ederspittle, cuckoo-spit (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), eter frod; 1914 Angus Gl., etter frod, ederspittle); supposed to cause sickness in cows (Sh.10 1950).
(2) Fig. Of weather: bitter cold. Cf. Ettery.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
A eter o' cauld, a cauld eter; a eter o' wadder, bitterly cold weather.
2. v. To emit purulent matter, to fester (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang., 1825 Jam.2; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also yitter (Ayr. 1961). P.L.D. §74.1. Also used fig. as ppl.adj., vbl.n., ettering.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xxxix.:
If a stop could be put, by my help, to the opening of such an ettering sore and king's evil as a newspaper.Ayr. 1836 Galt in Tait's Mag. (June) 394:
Without any great ettering of fash, we got all our rickle of things put on board.Abd. 1931 Abd. Press and Jnl. (11 Feb.):
“Etter” means to fester, and an “ettered” claw, or cleuch, may be a “bealt” finger or hand.
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"Etter n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/etter>
