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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PEUTHER, v.² Also pouther, puther (Rxb. 1825 Jam.), pother; peut(e)r, pewt(e)r, powder. [′pjuθər, ′pjutər]

1. intr. To fuss about doing nothing, potter about aimlessly, fumble, make a great show of working, bustle around (Ork. 1903 E.D.D.; Ork., Ags., Uls. 1965). Ppl.adj. pewt(e)ring, shiftless, “ham-handed”, fussily zealous.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 86:
At bonspiels, ay, o' what a shilpet crew, Sic pewtring bodies, curse me, ne'er I knew.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss-Hags xxxii.:
Mony a mewlin' peuterin' body has great success wi' the weemen folk.Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 124:
Him an' me Uncle Tam waar putheran aboot deir rig at Skithiwee.

2. tr., intr. and absol. In extended sense: to solicit in a fussy and ingratiating manner, to bustle about busily trying to win favour, to importune; specif. to canvass for votes in an election by means of flattery and fussy attentions (Rxb. 1748 J. Wilson Annals Hawick (1850) 149, powder; Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 91, pewther, 1825 Jam.; Ork. 1903 E.D.D.).Sc. 1724 Session Papers, Duff v. Magistrates Inverness (3 Feb.) 1:
Bribing and peuthering, if a Word so well understood may be used about Elections.Edb. 1738 Caled. Mercury (18 Dec.):
After the greatest Struggle and Peuthering that has yet been known, Mr. John Dickie Writer was elected.Dmf. 1746 R. Edgar Hist. Dmf. (1915) 58:
On account of the Test Act, he plowed and pewthered with the then Administrators . . . to grant him by Act of Council . . . five pounds str. yearly.Dmf. 1759 Session Papers, Crosbie v. Corbet (19 July) 39:
It is a common thing in Dumfries, in pothering, to kiss the wives, and drink with them.Gall. 1796 J. Lauderdale Poems 59:
To pimp, an' peuther, and to tell A guid tale, ay about mysell.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
The twa candidates were baith busy peuthering yesterday at Aberdeen.Ayr. 1834 Galt Lit. Life III. 41:
If I had not pewter't with the patron before Mr. Killfuddy was taken to the Maker, it's my opinion Mr. M'Dowre would have gotten the parish.