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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FITTER, v. Also feeter (Cai.), fitther (Uls.).

†1. tr. “To injure anything by frequent treading” (Sc. 1808 Jam.).

2. intr. To patter, to make a light repeated noise with the feet (Ib.); to move (the feet) restlessly, to fidget, esp. with the feet (ne.Sc., Ags., Fif., Dmf. 1951). Also fig. Ppl.adj. feeterin, fussy, fidgetty (Cai.⁸ 1934).Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 181:
Owr him wi' a boastfu' shout They ran wi' fitterin' feet.wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 135:
Aboon me I heard a sair strusslin', fitterin', pechin', and grainin'.Clc. 1852 G. P. Boyd Misc. Poems 7:
His pet-lamb fitters at his feet.Cld. 1880 Jam.:
He gaes fitterin' out an' in a' day.Per. 1881 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Readings 58:
What's he fitterin' at, I winder.Uls. 1924 North. Whig (23 Jan.):
Senseless men will fitther at trifling things.Sc. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 30:
The wind withoot a hishie Fitters in atween the fleurs an' shogs them, ane be ane.

3. intr. To totter, walk unsteadily, as a young child (Sc. 1825 Jam.); to be awkward in walking, to stumble, shamble (Cai.³ 1950).Abd. 1888 Bon-Accord (4 Aug.) 20:
He “fittered” up the front walk, feeling his way ahead tremulously with an umbrella.Ags. 1894 J. Inglis Oor Ain Folk 23:
That's a d—d fitterin' brute o' a powney o' yours.