Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1847-1866, 1932
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GYTER, n., v. Also gytter, geitter. Cf. Gutter, n., v.1 [′gəitər]
I. n. 1. "Nonsense; foolish talk" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 61, Bnff. 1880 Jam.; Mry., Abd. 1955).
2. A stupid, talkative person, a senseless driveller (Gregor; wm.Sc. 1917 Thistle (May) 95, gytter; ne.Sc. 1955). Also geitteral, a very stupid person (Gregor; Bnff. 1946).Abd. 1847 Gill Binklets 70:
Ye stupid auld gyter — ye're waur than a feel.
3. Fig. = ruin, in phr. to be aa tae the geitter, to go to wrack and ruin, to go "all to pot" (Abd.27 1954).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 61:
The young lad's a' t' the geitter.
II. v. 1. "To talk a great deal in a silly twaddling manner" (Ib.; Abd.27 1954).Abd. 1932 Abd. Book-Lover (Nov.) 70:
An' idle, eeseless, gyterin' clatch, Awat! she's juist your mark.
2. To do any kind of work in an awkward, trifling manner; "sometimes used with other words, and sometimes by itself, with the preposition at" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 61; Abd.27 1954), to potter about awkwardly.
[Freq. of Gyte, q.v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gyter n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gyter>
