Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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FLUTHER, Fludder, n.²

1. A boggy piece of ground, a marsh (Cai. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.), in pl. as a place-name in Cupar (Fif.¹⁷ 1952). Also in n.Eng. dial., esp. in place-names, in the form flother. Adj. fluthery, boggy, marshy (s.Sc. 1887 Jam.); flabby, soft (Ork. Ib.).Inv. 1732 in J. Noble Miscellanea Inv. (1902) 124:
Robert Scheviz of Muirtown deponed that the Pursuer struck up through a fluther that was on the way.Rs. 1765 N. Macrae Romance Royal Burgh 223:
The whole water may enter to and run through the fludder of Broad Pool towards the Sea.Ant. 1900 T. Given Poems 151:
An', then, how we wad scour, Jamie lad, Through fluther, glen, or moor, Jamie lad.

2. A slight rise or turbidity in a river, “a slighter change than what takes place in a spate” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Cf. Eng. dial. flodder, foam, half-dissolved snow.Abd. 1765 Session Papers, Middleton v. Magistrates Old Aberdeen (May) 16:
In great rains, it run in fludders, that is overflowed its bank.Ags. 1795 Session Papers, Arbuthnott v. Scott (11 March) 210:
There had been a fluther in the water.Per. 1933 W. Soutar Seeds in the Wind 26:
The muckle müne . . . Skimmers doun the Carse o' Gower An' the fluther o' the Tay.

3. “An abundance so great as to cause confusion; most commonly applied to bog-or meadow-hay, that grows very rank” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; 1923 Watson W.-B.).