Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1842-1843, 1915
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‡TOITER, v., n. Also tyter. [′tɔitər, ′təit-]
I. v. 1. To walk with short faltering steps, to totter (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 203; Abd., Ags. 1972). Hence ppl.adj., vbl.n. tyteran, -in, tottering. Also in n.Eng. dial.Per. a.1843 J. Stewart Sketches (1857) 185:
Our toiterin' Auld Year's wynin' sheet Is bleachin' on the hills.
2. To work in a weak, lethargic or trifling manner (Gregor).
II. n. 1. The act of walking with short tottering steps (Gregor; Ags. 1972).
2. Weak, footling or ineffective work, pottering, trifling, one who potters or trifles (Id.). Adj. titersome, of a job: fiddling, tediously difficult (ne.Sc. 1972).Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 164:
That wull be a titersome job Aw doot, an' her sae ull.
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"Toiter v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/toiter>
