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: 1866-1968
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TOOTER, v., n. Also tootter (Gregor); and with alternative dim. ending toottle (Id.). [′tutər]
I. v. 1. To work in an ineffectual fumbling manner, to footle, to potter or dawdle ineptly (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 194; n.Sc. 1972). Vbl.n., ppl.adj. toot(t)eran, -in, (Id.). Agent n. tooterer, one who works in a fiddling, fussy or feckless manner (Id.), adj. tooterie, -y, of persons: fussy, pottering; of things: fiddling, irritatingly trivial or intricate, time-consuming; of weather: broken, changeable, and so preventing steady work out of doors (Id.).Abd. 1949 Huntly Express (28 Jan., 19 Aug.):
Farm servants were unanimous in describing the top-dressing as "tooterie wark." . . . Another cause of discontent used to be if the farmer was "tooterie." How often have I heard lads say at a feeing market, "He's a fine mannie an' ye're fine in the hoose, bit he's a tooterin' craitur." . . . but owing to time being all-important "tooterers" are not nearly so common.Abd. 1964 Abd. Press & Jnl. (16 Jan.):
The spring was a "tooterie" one — nothing serious in the way of snowstorms, but seedtime was held back till April in most cases.Bnff. 1967 Abd. Press and Jnl. (16 May):
Mr Tennant's earlier comment on pike-making was: "They are tootery kin' o' things to make. They take up a lot of time."Abd. 1968 Huntly Express (29 Nov.) 7:
Any excuse was better than nothing for "tooterin' " and losing chances in the end of the year.
2. To walk with weak faltering steps (Gregor); to walk in a silly or affected manner (Id.), to toddle, go with short mincing steps (Mry., Abd. 1972). Adj. tootlie, unsteady (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 452). Cf. U.S. tootle, to toddle.
II. n. 1. Working in a feeble or ineffectual way, pottering, footling (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 194); a botch, bungle, of a job (ne.Sc. 1972), also tooteroo, id., by jocular confusion with tooteroo s.v. Tout, v.1, 1. (2), a state of ruin or confusion.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 194:
He's a' t' tootter wee's coo-cowpan. He tellt our mony lees t' stan' lang.Abd. 1905 E.D.D.:
Ye'll only mak a tooteroo o't, lassie, gin ye follow the cooking-books.
2. A feeble feckless worker, a potterer, botcher (Gregor; Bnff., Abd. 1972).
3. A tottery, weak, uncertain gait, a toddle (Id.).
[Orig. doubtful, poss. a conflation of various words and senses, as Fouter, q.v., of which this may be partly a euphemistic alteration, potter, totter, tootle, etc.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Tooter v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tooter>
