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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WITTER, n.³, v.³ Also wutter; weeter-, wooter-. [′wɪtər, ′wʌtər; ′wɪtər-, ′wu-]

I. n. A sharp, active, restless, impatient person, freq. one of a somewhat waspish, cantankerous, pushing disposition (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., wutter; ne.Sc., Ags. 1974). Dims. wittrel, wutterel (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.), witterin (Bnff. 1930), and, of children, wutteroch, weeterykin, id. Adj. witterous, witterie, weeterus, wooterus, of a crabbed, pertinacious nature, venomous in temper (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 211; Mry., Bnff., Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.; ne.Sc. 1974).Mry. 1880 F. Sutherland Memories 212:
Though fortune — hang the wutterus witch — Ill luck upon me still keeps pilin'.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 93:
Gether up yer leaves an' mak' oot o' this, ye ill-brocht-up weeterykin.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 201:
He keepit yon aul' witterel Meg Forbes.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick i.:
'E caal's been some muckle for ye, ye wee bit wutteroch.Abd. 1993:
E hoosekeeper's a witterie kinna buddie.

II. v. 1. To be restless with impatience, to fidget, fret; to grumble, mutter as if annoyed (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); of a cat: to twitch its lips excitedly when stalking a prey (Dmf. 1920). Ppl.adj. wutterin, peevish, fretful (Abd. 1915), fidgeting (Per. 1958).Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 205:
She'll be sittin wutterin on her tea.Per. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
I was juist wutterin' tae get them tae the door.

2. To struggle, to carry on with difficulty, to earn one's living precariously (Kcd. 1825 Jam.). Phs. a different word.Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 107:
For whan I mindit on the hards That he had witter'd thro'.Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton 69:
He maun fecht an' witter a' the days o's life.Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 44:
Lat's wutter awa or the time weer roun For the road we've a' te gyang.Abd. 1957 Bon-Accord (7 Nov.) 6:
I hae nae doot ye'll witter throwe a' richt afore lang.