Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1929-1959
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KETTER, n., adj. [′k(j)ɛtər]
I. n. A mean heartless fellow; a miserly person. Also attrib.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Used in a derisive couplet flung at any person seen carrying eggs. "Ketter-negger, hen beggar, Beg the egg afore she laid her."Ork. 1930:
"He's no a ketter o' whit he hes," said of one who is open-handed and generous.Ork. 1959:
"Say ketter an' thoo'll get her." Risky to say to a person carrying eggs of doubtful age.
II. adj. Mean, stingy, heartless (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
[Prob. an extended meaning of Kater, n., in its orig. sense of a laird's taxgatherer. See etym. notes s.v. and to Caterloon.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Ketter n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ketter>
