tattern.1
/ˈtatə/, U.S. /ˈtædər/ 1.
a. An irregularly torn piece, strip, shred, or scrap of cloth or similar substance, hanging loose from the main body, esp. of a garment; more rarely applied to the separate pieces into which a thing is torn; a rag. In plural often = tattered or ragged clothing; rags.In early quots. applied in contempt to the ‘dags’ or projecting pieces of a slashed garment; in quot. 1470-85 to the sharp points or jags in a dragon's tail.
ΘΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > ragged or torn piece
tatter-wagc1400
tag1402
tatter1402
flake1608
tatter-wallop1808
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > trimmings or ornamentation > border or edging > parts of
dag1399
tag1402
tatter1402
jag1530
cut1563
Vandyke1827
tab1834
tabc1880
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [noun] > a sharp prominence
bill1382
pointa1387
tatter1402
beakc1440
spike1488
neb1578
prong1591
prow1601
taggera1687
tang1688
jog1715
nib1788
tusk1823
spur1872
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that which hangs or is suspended > raggedly
tatter-wagc1400
tag1402
tatter1402
tatter-wallop1808
tag-rag1827
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > [noun] > piece of > rag > a rag
clout?c1225
rata1250
ragc1390
shrag?a1400
tatter-wagc1400
tatter1402
jag1555
libbet1627
tatter-wallop1808
tat1839
tag1840
trollopa1843
fent1844
raggle1888
lappie1892
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > [noun] > demolition > a ruin or wreck > ruins
tatter1402
ash1553
downfall1575
destruction1585
parietines1621
masure1623
detriments1632
wreck1713
wrecking1855
lagan1906
1402 Polit. Poems (Rolls) II. 69 Of suche wide clothing, tateris and tagges, It hirtith myn hert hevyly.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur v. iv. 165 A dredeful dragon..his hede..enameled with asure.., his taylle ful of tatters.
?1510 Treatyse Galaunt (de Worde) sig. Aiijv With longe taters downe to the ars behynde.
1612 S. Rowlands Knaue of Harts 23 A suite of ragges and tatters on my backe.
1621 T. W. tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard 172 To goe woolward, in sackcloth, and haire cloth, in totters and ragges.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 97 They go Barefoot, and all in Tattars.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. ii. 58 The remains of tapestry hung in tatters upon the walls.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxv. 82 Furl the sail before it blows to tatters.
1873 ‘Ouida’ Pascarèl I. 25 What does a tatter or two in the dress signify?
1884 F. O. Bower & D. H. Scott tr. H. A. de Bary Compar. Anat. Phanerogams & Ferns 216 Thin very obscure tatters of the ruptured tissue clothe the walls of the mature passage.
b. figurative or in figurative context.
Π
1576 A. Fleming tr. Caecina in Panoplie Epist. 81 Torne to tatters with a thousand tempests of troubles.
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 10 To heare a rebustious periwig fellow, To teare a passion in totters, into very ragges.
1607 W. N. Barley-breake sig. A3 Then Hate, and Enuie, all to totters went.
1792 W. Cowper Let. 3 June (1984) IV. 89 Return'd from my walk, blown to tatters.
1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues I. 181 Philosophers,..who tear arguments to tatters.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [noun] > one who wears ragged or tattered clothing
ragman1440
tatterdemalion1608
tatter1637
tatter-wallop1808
ragged robin1826
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > worthlessness > worthless person > [noun] > ragged
raggmall1581
ragamuffin1586
bash-rag1603
tatterdemalion1608
ragabash?1609
flabergullion1611
tatter1637
sansculotte1812
ragged robin1826
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > low rank or condition > other people of low rank or condition > [noun] > ragamuffin
raggmall1581
ragamuffin1586
bash-rag1603
tatterdemalion1608
ragabash?1609
flabergullion1611
tatter1637
Sir Rag1764
sansculotte1812
shab-rag1828
ragamuff1863
takhaar1899
1637 T. Heywood Royall King ii. viii What Tatter's that that walkes there?
a1640 J. Day & H. Chettle Blind-beggar (1659) sig. K1 How? mary with a Beggar? mix the blood of Strowds with a tatter?
1651 T. Randolph et al. Hey for Honesty iii. i. 21/1 Well spoke, my noble English Tatter, Lead up the Vant-guard.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. † tatter-rag n. Obsolete† tatter-wag n. (tatar-wagge) Obsolete
Π
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Aiv/1 Tatterraggs, panniculi.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > ragged or torn piece
tatter-wagc1400
tag1402
tatter1402
flake1608
tatter-wallop1808
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > ragged or tattered > article of
tatter-wagc1400
brat1529
tatter-wallop1808
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that which hangs or is suspended > raggedly
tatter-wagc1400
tag1402
tatter1402
tatter-wallop1808
tag-rag1827
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > [noun] > piece of > rag > a rag
clout?c1225
rata1250
ragc1390
shrag?a1400
tatter-wagc1400
tatter1402
jag1555
libbet1627
tatter-wallop1808
tat1839
tag1840
trollopa1843
fent1844
raggle1888
lappie1892
c1400 Rom. Rose 7257 And grey clothis not full clene But fretted full of tatarwagges.
c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 9247 He hewys his mayles res by res, He hewys hem alle In taterwagges, His hauberk heng alle In ragges.
b.
tatter-eared adj.
Π
1953 R. Graves Poems 18 Tatter-eared and slinking alley-toms.
tatter-fudded adj. Scottish see fud n.3
ΚΠ
1880 J. Nicol Poems & Songs 29 The dirty tatter-fudded Poor stowaway.
tatter-skinned adj.
Π
1924 R. Campbell Flaming Terrapin ii. 26 And like a leper, faint and tatter-skinned, The wan moon makes a ghost of every tree.
tatter-tailed adj.
Π
c1600 Club Law (1907) iii. ii. 40 This is some tattertaild Athenian.
tatter-tangled adj.
Π
1876 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 177 Tatter-tangled and dingle-a-danglèd Dandy-hung dainty head.
C2.
tatter-wallop n. Scottish and English regional (northern) a fluttering tatter or rag; (also) a person in ragged clothes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > ragged or torn piece
tatter-wagc1400
tag1402
tatter1402
flake1608
tatter-wallop1808
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [noun] > one who wears ragged or tattered clothing
ragman1440
tatterdemalion1608
tatter1637
tatter-wallop1808
ragged robin1826
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > ragged or tattered > article of
tatter-wagc1400
brat1529
tatter-wallop1808
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that which hangs or is suspended > raggedly
tatter-wagc1400
tag1402
tatter1402
tatter-wallop1808
tag-rag1827
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > [noun] > piece of > rag > a rag
clout?c1225
rata1250
ragc1390
shrag?a1400
tatter-wagc1400
tatter1402
jag1555
libbet1627
tatter-wallop1808
tat1839
tag1840
trollopa1843
fent1844
raggle1888
lappie1892
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Tatter-wallops, tatters, rags in a fluttering state.
1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 204 Hood..cowl and clout, In tatter-wallops flew about.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Tatter-wallops, a woman with ragged clothes.
1910 Chambers's Jrnl. Jan. 30/1 Ye're aye tearin' yer clothes, ye wee tatter-wallops!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
tattern.2
rare.
In Needlework: One who tats or does tatting.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of ornamental textiles or trimmings > [noun] > knotting or tatting > one who
tatter1881
1881 Faith & Unfaith I. iv. 54 Miss Peyton..confronts this eminent tatter.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
tattern.3
slang.
A refuse-gatherer, a rag-collector. Cf. totter n.2
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > clearing of refuse matter > refuse disposal > [noun] > rag-collecting or dust-heap picking > one who
kennel-raker1570
finder1607
rag-raker1631
rag-picker1680
bunter1706
rake-kennel1707
rag collector1820
rag gatherer1851
chiffonier1856
gutter-snipe1869
picker1884
tatter1890
totter1891
dumpster diver1985
1890 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang Tatter (tramps), a rag-gatherer.
1898 Leeds Mercury Suppl. 26 Nov. Tatter.
1921 Dict. Occup. Terms (1927) §970 Tatter,..collects [waste] with a hand-pushed barrow or cart.
1969 Telegraph & Argus (Bradford) 16 Oct. 9 He was wearing a dark jacket, and light drill trousers. He is believed to be a rag tatter.
Derivatives
ˈtatterer n.
ΚΠ
1910 Church Times 15 July Their occupations being largely that of ‘Tatterers’ —i.e. rag and bone and bottle-gatherers, and casual labourers.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
tatteradj.
dialect.
Cross, peevish, testy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > peevishness > [adjective]
protervec1384
teethya1500
peevishc1530
protervous1547
pettish1552
tatter1579
fretting1587
teeny1594
frampold1599
treaf1601
fretful1603
teety1621
frappish1631
froppish1659
huffy1680
toothy1691
peenging1724
fractious1725
crossish1740
huffish1755
petulant1755
refractious1761
pouty1799
pensy1803
fudgy1819
twiney1824
rammista1838
fretty1844
petful1852
patchy1862
fretsome1870
grizzly1900
anfractuous1923
1579 T. Twyne tr. Petrarch Phisicke against Fortune i. xv. 17 b His two wiues, most tatter and testie olde women.
1579 T. Twyne tr. Petrarch Phisicke against Fortune i. cx. 139 When a man maketh hym selfe seruiceable and subiect to a tatter olde foole.
1736 J. Lewis Hist. Isle Tenet (ed. 2) Gloss. Tatter, ragged, cross, peevish, ‘he is a very tatter man’.
1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. (at cited word) The old 'ooman's middlin' tatter to-day, I can tell ye.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
tatterv.1
a. transitive. To tear or reduce to tatters; to make ragged; to tear in pieces, mangle. Also figurative. to tatter a kip (slang): see kip n.3 1.The participial adjective tattered and verbal noun tattering are known before the simple vb.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > tearing or tearing apart > tear [verb (transitive)] > tear apart
to-loukc890
to-braidc893
to-tearc893
to-teec893
to-rendc950
to-breakc1200
to-tugc1220
to-lima1225
rivea1250
to-drawa1250
to-tosea1250
drawa1300
rendc1300
to-rit13..
to-rivec1300
to-tusec1300
rakea1325
renta1325
to-pullc1330
to-tightc1330
tirec1374
halea1398
lacerate?a1425
to-renta1425
yryve1426
raga1450
to pull to (or in) piecesc1450
ravec1450
discerp1483
pluck1526
rip1530
decerp1531
rift1534
dilaniate1535
rochec1540
rack1549
teasea1550
berend1577
distract1585
ream1587
distrain1590
unrive1592
unseam1592
outrive1598
divulse1602
dilacerate1604
harrow1604
tatter1608
mammocka1616
uprentc1620
divell1628
divellicate1638
seam-rend1647
proscind1659
skail1768
screeda1785
spret1832
to tear to shreds1837
ribbon1897
c1380 [see tattering n.1 and adj.1 at Derivatives].
c1440 York Myst. xlvi. 44 (Of Christ scourged and crowned with thorns) Ilk tag of þat turtill so tatterid and torne es.]
1608 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 122 A Lion, that hath tatterd heer A goodly Heifer, there a lusty Steer.
1652 Persuasive to Compliance 6 A Nation so exhausted and tattered by divisions.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. i. 12 To assist at tattering a kip, as the phrase was, when we had a mind for a frolic.
1837 C. Lofft Self-formation I. 34 I tattered some good poetry to rags, expressly for her gratification.
a1845 T. Hood Forge ii. xvi Shrieking for flesh to tear and tatter.
b. intransitive. To be or become tattered. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > [verb (intransitive)] > other
shrink1483
tattera1616
intermat1904
plush1904
a1616 [see tattering n.1 and adj.1 at Derivatives].
1934 D. Thomas in New Verse Apr. 12 Our strips of stuff that tatter as we move.
Derivatives
ˈtattering n.1 and adj.1 (in quot. c1380, slashing of garments).
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > tearing or tearing apart > [noun]
tatteringc1380
rendinga1398
rifta1400
rentingc1405
ripping1463
direption1483
outriving1488
dilaceration1545
raving1553
dilaniation1569
divulsion1603
discission1628
discerption1645
tear1666
rent1753
shredding1954
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > tearing or tearing apart > [adjective] > torn or torn apart
betorna1300
forpinchedc1325
torn1362
broken1377
tatteringc1380
renta1382
fortorn1496
lacerate1514
lacerated1556
rented1559
rived1581
dilaniated1597
dilacerate1602
discerpted1607
berent1608
rended1612
breacheda1649
dilacerated1650
vultured1946
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > by loss of material or wasted > worn > tattered
tottered1570
tatteringc1580
tattered1596
tatterly1739
tatteryc1843
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 124 Men deformen hor body by hor foule atyre..and tatering of clothes.
c1580 tr. Bugbears Epil., Song ii, in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1897) 99 With battrynges, with plattrynges, with tattrynges.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) v. v. 7 After such bloody toile, we bid good night, And woon'd our tott'ring colours clearly vp, Last in the field, and almost Lords of it. View more context for this quotation
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
tatterv.2
Obsolete exc. dialect.
1. intransitive. To talk idly, chatter, prate, tattle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > be talkative [verb (intransitive)] > talk excessively or chatter
chavel?c1225
babblea1250
chattera1250
clacka1250
janglea1300
ganglec1300
clapc1315
mumblec1350
blabberc1375
carp1377
tatterc1380
garre1382
rattlec1400
clatter1401
chimec1405
gabc1405
pattera1450
smattera1450
languetc1450
pratec1460
chat1483
jabber1499
clittera1529
cackle1530
prattle1532
blatter1533
blab1535
to run on pattens1546
tattle1547
prittle-prattlea1555
trattlea1555
tittle-tattle1556
quiddlea1566
brabble1570
clicket1570
twattle1573
gabble1574
prittle1583
to like to hear oneself speak, talk1597
to word it1612
deblaterate1623
tongue1624
twitter1630
snatter1647
oversay1656
whiffle1706
to gallop away1711
splutter1728
gob1770
gibble-gabble1775
palaver1781
to talk (etc.) nineteen to the dozen1785
gammon1789
witter1808
yabble1808
yaff1808
mag1810
chelp1820
tongue-pad1825
yatter1825
potter1826
chipper1829
jaw-jaw1831
buzz1832
to shoot off one's mouth1864
yawp1872
blate1878
chin1884
yap1888
spiel1894
to talk (also lie, swear, etc.) a blue streak1895
to run off at the mouth1908
chattermag1909
clatfart1913
to talk a streak1915
to run one's mouth1916
natter1942
ear-bash1944
rabbit1950
yack1950
yacker1961
to eat parrot head (also bottom)1965
yacket1969
to twat on1996
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 192 Oure fleschly peple haþ more lykynge in here bodely eris in sich knackynge & taterynge þan in herynge of goddis lawe.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 487/1 Tateryn, or iaueryn, or speke wythe owte resone (K. or iangelyn,..P. iaberyn).
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 487/1 Taterynge, or iauerynge (S. iaperynge, P. iaberinge), garritus.
1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. at Tattering Come now, there's to much tatterin' by half, let's have less noise and more work!
Categories »
2. intransitive. ‘To scold; to chide; to be furious or cross’ ( Eng. Dial. Dict.).
Derivatives
ˈtattering n.2 and adj.2
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [adjective]
wordyeOE
talewisec1200
i-worded?c1225
babblinga1250
cacklinga1250
chatteringa1250
speakfula1250
word-wooda1250
of many wordsc1350
janglingc1374
tatteringc1380
tongueya1382
ganglinga1398
readya1400
jargaunt1412
talkative1432
open-moutheda1470
clattering1477
trattling?a1513
windy1513
popping1528
smatteringa1529
rattle?1529
communicablea1533
blab1552
gaggling1553
long-tongued?1553
prittle-prattle1556
pattering1558
talking1560
bobling1566
gabbling1566
verbal1572
piet1573
twattling1573
flibber gibber1575
babblative1576
tickle-tongued1577
tattling1581
buzzing1587
long-winded1589
multiloquous1591
discoursive1599
rattling1600
glib1602
flippant1605
talkful1605
nimble-tongued1608
tongue-ripe1610
fliperous1611
garrulous?1611
futile1612
overspeaking1612
feather-tongueda1618
tongue-free1617
long-breatheda1628
well-breathed1635
multiloquious1640
untongue-tied1640
unretentive1650
communicative1651
linguacious1651
glibbed1654
largiloquent1656
multiloquent1656
parlagea1657
loose-clacked1661
nimble-chop1662
twit-twat1665
over-talkativea1667
loquacious1667
loudmouth1668
conversable1673
gash1681
narrative1681
chappy1693
apposite1701
conversative1703
gabbit1710
lubricous1715
gabby?1719
ventose1721
taleful1726
chatty?1741
blethering1759
renable1781
fetch-fire1784
conversational1799
conversant1803
gashing1808
long-lunged1815
talky1815
multi-loquacious1819
prolegomenous1822
talky-talky1831
nimble-mouthed1836
slipper1842
speechful1842
gassy1843
in great force1849
yattering1859
babbly1860
irreticent1864
chattable1867
lubrical1867
chattery1869
loose-mouthed1872
chinny1883
tongue-wagging1885
yappy1909
big-mouthed1914
loose-lipped1919
ear-bashing1945
ear-bending1946
yackety-yacking1953
nattering1959
yacking1959
woofy1960
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [noun] > chattering
chaveling?c1225
janglingc1330
jangleryc1374
tatteringc1380
ganglinga1387
clatteringc1400
babbling?c1430
languetingc1450
pratinga1470
cackling1530
prattling1530
tattling1547
gaggling1548
clicketing1575
twattling1577
clacking1594
gabbling1599
blattering1604
snuttering1693
futileness1727
rattling1753
gabbering1798
magginga1800
yaffing1815
deblateration1817
tattlement1837
nattering1859
spieling1859
yattering1859
chatteration1862
quiddling1870
windjamming1886
waffling1958
motormouthing1981
c1380Taterynge [see sense 1]. 1888Tatterin' [see sense 1].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
tatterv.3
dialect.
intransitive. To move or bestir oneself actively; to go or run at a great rate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > going swiftly on foot > go swiftly on foot [verb (intransitive)] > run > run fast or at full speed
to pull it1792
to run (also be off) like a redshank1809
sky1824
tattera1825
peel1860
pelter1906
hare1908
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Tatter, v. to stir actively and laboriously... ‘He is a very pains-taking man; always towing and tattering after his business’.
1828 T. C. Croker Fairy Legends & Trad. S. Ireland II. 126 Away they went tattering along the road, making the fire fly out of the stones at no rate.
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xiv The bell rang violently. ‘There, do you hear him tattering?’
1897 S. R. Crockett Lochinvar v. 68 Running fleet-foot..as though the devil himself had been tattering at his tail.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
n.1c1400
n.21881
n.31890adj.1579v.1c1380v.2c1380v.3a1825