Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1717-1736, 1821-1826
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CHATTER, v.1, n.1 [′tʃɑtər]
1. v. “To divide a thing by causing many fractures, to break suddenly into small pieces” (Abd. 1825 Jam.2); “to shatter” (Uls.3 1930). Known to Bnff.2, Abd.2, Abd.8 1939.Sc. 1717 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1908) 618:
The milne wheell is useless being broken, and the walk-milne wheel chattered and broken.Gsw. 1736 J. Hill Memorabilia (1835) 498:
Several parts of the wall chattered and disordered.
Hence chattery, breakable, friable, made of clay, porcelain or the like. Also chattrie, Chattery ware, dishes. Ayr. 1821 C. Lockhart Poems 75:
When we cam hame at e'en . . . [Ye] brought your tanker to the boil And washed the chattrie clean.Rnf. 1826 Miscellany S.H.S. VIII. 155:
A Dresser and Rack and a quantity of Chattery ware.
2. n. “The act of shattering” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 218).
[Given in D.O.S.T. as a variant of schatter, 1669. Cf. L.Ger. schateren, v., as above (Franck).]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Chatter v.1, n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/chatter_v1_n1>
