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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STAMMER, v., n. Also stammar, stamer, staumer (Jam.; Abd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 111), stawmer (Gregor). Cf. Stummer. [′stɑmər]

I. v. 1. (1) Of persons or animals, esp. horses: to stumble, stagger, to walk with faltering unsteady steps, to blunder about (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 94, 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 181; Uls. 1953 Traynor; n.Sc., Ags., Slg., Fif., Peb., Ayr., Wgt., Rxb. 1971). Now only dial. in Eng. Ppl.adj. stammering, stumbling, unsurefooted, of a horse (Sc. 1799 H. Mitchell Scotticisms 77), awkward or clumsy at walking or working, of persons (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 181).Abd. 1723 W. Meston Poet. Wks. (1802) 6:
On it [skull] you might thresh wheat or barley, Before you made him reel or stammer.Sc. 1778 Weekly Mag. (21 Jan.) 88:
The farmer now, still eident o' his wark, Gets up fu' soon, an' stammers thro' the dark.Ayr. 1786 Burns W. Chalmers' Sweetheart i.:
Whyles owre a bush, wi' downward crush, The doited beastie stammers.Fif. 1824 J. Bissett Poems 182:
He just now came stammering in, Not only fou, but also blin'.Peb. 1838 W. Welsh Poems 13:
But hang't I aften miss'd my mark An' stamert on their noses.Ags. 1878 J. S. Neish Remin. Brechin 95:
He was seen stammering on the road.s.Sc. 1885 W. Scrope Salmon Fishing 267:
Ye are aye stammering among the fish like a haveril as ye are.

Hence derivs. stammeral, staumeral, -rel, stammrel, awkward, blundering, stupid; as a n., an awkward, clumsy fellow (Ayr. 1880 Jam.); stammery, stumbling, tottery, uncertain in one's footing, of a horse (ne.Sc., Ags., Fif., sm.Sc. 1971).Ayr. 1787 Burns Brigs of Ayr 170:
Staumrel, corky-headed, graceless Gentry.Abd. 1868 W. Shelley Wayside Flowers 207:
The stammrel gaed stampin right through the buss.Clc. 1882 J. Walker Poems 9:
Now stammrel Jock wi' gabby Grizzel pairs.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 60:
The muckle staumril slid and fell.Abd. 1958 Huntly Express (25 July):
Bit by an' by the craitur turned grey abeen the een, An' unco stammery kin' amo' the feet.

(2) of things: to totter, become unsteady.Ags. 1824 J. Bowick Characters 66:
The wrights and masons struck the Raw, Until the jeasts did stammer.

2. To blunder in speech, to falter, be at a loss for words. Hence stammeral, a stammerer, one who falters in speech (Ayr. 1825 Jam.).Lnk. 1895 A. G. Murdoch Readings II. 91:
“I'm a wee fear't for some o' the ticklish questions he may ask me.” “Oh, man, ye needna stammer owre that simple maitter.”

II. n. 1. A stumble, stagger, trip, missed footing, freq. of horses, a staggering shambling gait (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 181; ne.Sc., Ags., Lth., sm.Sc. 1971). Phr. to gle a stammer, to make a stumble, to trip.Lnk. 1805 G. M'Indoe Poems 60:
Feet up, an expression used by carters when the horse makes a stammer.Edb. 1821 W. Liddle Poems 160:
A wee ramgeed wi' whisky, Which gart them mony a stammer gie.Gall. 1881 J. K. Scott Gleanings 49:
Wi' a stammer neist he struck His han' against the wa'.Ags. 1907:
Her fut gae a stammer.

2. A stupid awkward person (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 181). Cf. stammeral above.

†3. Sc. thieves' slang: a criminal charge or indictment, sc. a gabble of words.Sc. 1821 D. Haggart Life 135:
I said I was not guilty, and demanded a copy of my stammer.