Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1805-1864
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†FLOTTER, v. 1. To float, to flounder.Sc. a.1806 Sir Patrick Spens in Child Ballads No. 58 G xiv.:
Mony was the featherbed That flottered on the faem.
2. To splash, cover with liquid.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 23:
The flotter't table maist was steepit Wi' claret dubs that drapt and dreepit.
3. To bubble in boiling, simmer, sputter.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin iii.:
A muckle pat-fu' o' cow's meat, consistin' o' neeps an chaff, flotterin' an boilin'.
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"Flotter v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/flotter>
