wittern.1
/ˈwɪtə/, U.S. /ˈwɪdər/, Scottish English /ˈwɪtər/ Scottish and northern.
1. Something that serves as a mark, sign, or token.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > [noun] > an indication or sign
tokeningc888
fingereOE
senyeOE
markOE
showing?c1225
blossomc1230
signa1325
signifyingc1384
evidencea1393
notea1398
forbysena1400
kenninga1400
knowinga1400
showerc1400
unningc1400
signala1413
signification?a1425
demonstrancec1425
cenyc1440
likelinessc1450
ensign1474
signifure?a1475
outshowinga1500
significativea1500
witter1513
precedent1518
intimation1531
signifier1532
meith1533
monument1536
indicion?1541
likelihood1541
significator1554
manifest1561
show1561
evidency1570
token-teller1574
betokener1587
calendar1590
instance1590
testificate1590
significant1598
crisis1606
index1607
impression1613
denotementa1616
story1620
remark1624
indicium1625
denotation1633
indice1636
signum1643
indiction1653
trace1656
demonstrator1657
indication1660
notationa1661
significatory1660
indicator1666
betrayer1678
demonstration1684
smell1691
wittering1781
notaa1790
blazonry1850
sign vehicle1909
marker1919
rumble1927
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid v. iii. 52 A mark or wittir of ane greyn aik tre.
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 272 Ane wyspe wpoun ewerie speir heid to be ane signe and witter to thame.
a1630 D. Hume Hist. Houses Douglas & Angus (1644) 98 He snatched away his spear with his guidon or witter.
1798 J. Naismith Agric. Clydesdale 105 To leave 20 or 25 select trees, called reserves or witters,..at each cutting.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Waiter, a token, a sign.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Wutter, the rod which is put in the tithe stooks of corn.
2. Curling. The tee (tee n.3) towards which the stones are aimed.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > curling > [noun] > area of ice > mark
cock1787
cockee1789
tee1789
witter1789
1789 D. Davidson Thoughts Seasons 166 Next Robin o' Mains, a leader good, Close to the witter drew.
1811 J. Ramsay Acct. Game Curling 4 A..witter..is a small hole made in the ice, round which two circles of different diameters are drawn, that the relative distances of the stones from the tee may be calculated at sight.
Compounds
attributive:† witter hole n. Obsolete a hole serving as a mark in a witter stone.† witter stone n. Obsolete a boundary stone, a ‘march stone’.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > marking > [noun] > boundary stone > hole serving as a mark in
witter hole1615
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > boundary > [noun] > land-boundary > boundary mark > stone > hole in
witter hole1615
1615 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1848) II. 323 Ane great merche stane, havand four witter hollis.
witter length n. Curling as far as the tee.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > curling > [adverb] > as far as mark
witter length1824
1824 J. Mactaggart Sc. Gallovidian Encycl. 65 Old wary curlers..won't waste stones on the guards. They sail them past the sentinels, nigh wutter length.
witter shot n. a shot that sends the stone exactly to the tee.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > winter sports > curling > [noun] > types of shot or delivery
inring1789
outwick1805
inwick1820
wick1823
witter shot1823
outring1824
inturn1890
out-turn1890
stug1897
draw1902
draw shot1902
in-curl1903
out-curl1903
long slide1936
slide1950
peel1984
1823 J. Kennedy Poems & Songs 29 Their outer, and their inner wicks, And witter shot.
1824 J. Mactaggart Sc. Gallovidian Encycl. 184 Draw a Wutter Shot, a curling phrase, signifying to give the stone so much strength, that it may slide the length of the mark, and no farther.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > boundary > [noun] > land-boundary > boundary mark > stone
hoar-stone847
honeeOE
merestoneOE
markstoneOE
march stone1519
shire-stone1536
dool-stone1580
bound-stone1602
witter stone1615
metestone1617
bounder-stone1635
bourne-stone1837
1615 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1848) II. 322 Ane great witter stane in the muir, merkit with four hollis.
1679 J. Lauder Decisions (1759) I. 66 The Lords..Find..that the stone called the witterstone is not a stone for the regulating thereof [sc. the ‘regorging’ of water].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
wittern.2
/ˈwɪtə/, U.S. /ˈwɪdər/, Scottish English /ˈwɪtər/ Scottish and northern.
plural. The barbs of an arrow, fishing-spear, fish-hook, or the like. (rare in singular.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > spear > [noun] > barbs on
witters1775
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > hook > [noun] > barb on
beard1555
witters1775
beard hook1795
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > arrow > [noun] > head of arrow > barbed head > barb of
beard1555
witters1775
1775 H. Foord in Trans. Soc. Arts (1784) 2 197 The other [whale] was lost,..by the Wetters, or Feathers of the Harpoon, giving way and bending.
1775 H. Foord in Trans. Soc. Arts (1784) 2 198 With one Wetter towards the Fish's head, the other towards her tail.
1792 Archaeol. Scot. I. 392 In process of time, the lozenge form fell into disuse, and the arrow head was formed with two witters.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 69 He deserved his paiks for't—to put out the light when the fish was on ane's witters!
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 223 The harpoon..consists of three conjoined parts, called the ‘socket’, ‘shank’, and ‘mouth’; the latter of which includes the barbs or ‘withers’.
Derivatives
ˈwittered adj. barbed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [adjective] > having (a) sharp projection(s) > barbed
witherhokedc1330
barbeledc1480
bearded1577
barbed1611
jaggered1627
tentered1768
barbated1782
wittereda1824
a1824 in J. Mactaggart Sc. Gallovidian Encycl. 6 They'd soon be darting in him Mony a witterd poisonous stang.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Wuttered, barbed.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† witteradj.1
Obsolete.
Knowing, cunning, wise. Also, cognizant, aware (cf. wise adj. 3b).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > [adjective]
glewc725
wiselyc900
snoterc950
wiseOE
keena1000
witterc1100
redewisec1225
redefulc1275
well-donec1275
witfulc1275
sage1297
redya1325
heartya1382
prudenta1382
hearteda1425
subtilea1450
sapient1471
Palladian1562
wittiful1590
judicious1591
cordate1651
sophical1739
sophica1773
sapientious1852
unbesotted1875
sapiential1882
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > [adjective] > knowing, aware
wareOE
witterc1100
awarea1250
knowing1504
foreseen?1569
waring1571
guilty1599
cognoscent1649
self-conscious1694
sapient1764
knowledgeable1825
cognizant1839
knowful1937
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > astute
oldOE
witterc1100
pratc1175
smeighc1200
fellc1300
yap13..
far-castinga1387
parlousc1390
advisee?a1400
politic?a1439
astucec1550
political1577
astute1611
knowing1664
shrewda1684
sharp1697
leery1718
peery1721
fly1811
canny1816
flash1818
astucious1823
varmint1829
chickaleary1839
wide1879
snide1883
varminty1907
crazy like (or as) a fox1935
c1100 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (MS. D) ann. 1067 Se kyng..wislice hine beþohte swa he full witter wæs.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4787 Heo wes witer [c1300 Otho fair] heo wes wis.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 698 Ne þe nedder was noght bittur Þan, þowf he was euer wittur.
c1320 Cast. Love 75 Ac whose is witer and wys of wit.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) 168 So made god wid witter miȝt, Al erue,..and wilde der.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2330 Ne wiste ge nogt Ðat ic am o wol witter ðogt?
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1308 Ðo wurð ðe child witter and war Ðat ðor sal offrende ben don.
a1400–50 Wars Alex. 629 Sone wex he witter & wyse.
Derivatives
ˈwitterhed n. [-head suffix]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > [noun]
righteousnesseOE
snoterc950
witnessc950
wisdomOE
insightc1175
witc1175
smeighnessc1200
sleighta1300
witternessa1300
inwitc1305
wittiheadc1315
wisenessc1320
witterheda1325
wisehede1340
slyness1357
sapience1377
wisdomhood138.
prudencea1382
sapienta1400
sentencec1400
advice?a1439
sophyc1440
profunditya1500
wittiness1543
Minerva1601
depth1605
Sophia1649
visionariness1817
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3667 Ches ðe nu her seuenti Wise men to stonden ðe bi, And ic sal hem geuen witter-hed.
† †ˈwitterness n. Obsolete wisdom, prudence, knowledge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > [noun]
righteousnesseOE
snoterc950
witnessc950
wisdomOE
insightc1175
witc1175
smeighnessc1200
sleighta1300
witternessa1300
inwitc1305
wittiheadc1315
wisenessc1320
witterheda1325
wisehede1340
slyness1357
sapience1377
wisdomhood138.
prudencea1382
sapienta1400
sentencec1400
advice?a1439
sophyc1440
profunditya1500
wittiness1543
Minerva1601
depth1605
Sophia1649
visionariness1817
a1300 Cursor Mundi 23510 Godd, þat all wate þat es..Vte of his witernes be þai neuer.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 9728 Fader,..þi sun i es O þi strenght and þi witernes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online March 2020).
† witteradj.2
Obsolete.
Clear, evident, certain.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > evident certainty > [adjective]
witterc1175
apert1340
clearc1380
plainc1395
apparentc1400
demonstrablea1425
demonstrate1509
sensible?1531
explicit1623
apodicticala1638
demonstrated1646
apodictic1652
flat1665
decided1757
distinct1828
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 3363 Her icc wile shæwenn ȝuw Summ þing to witerr takenn.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2903 Min milche witter name eley He knewen wel.
1357 Lay Folks Catech. (T.) 542 Idelnesse is..witter wissyng and wai till alkyns vices.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† witterv.1
Obsolete (cf. next).
transitive. To inform, instruct; in some early quots. perhaps to make clear (to a person what to do).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > action of informing > give (information) [verb (transitive)] > inform (a person)
to teach a person a thingc888
meanOE
wiseOE
sayOE
wittera1225
tellc1225
do to witc1275
let witc1275
let seec1330
inform1384
form1399
lerea1400
to wit (a person) to saya1400
learn1425
advertise1431
givec1449
insense?c1450
instruct1489
ascertain1490
let1490
alighta1500
advert1511
signify1523
reform1535
advise1562
partake1565
resolve1568
to do to ware1594
to let into one's knowledge1596
intellect1599
possess1600
acquainta1616
alighten1615
recommenda1616
intelligence1637
apprise1694
appraise1706
introduce1741
avail1785
prime1791
document1807
to put up1811
to put a person au fait of1828
post1847
to keep (someone) straight1862
monish1866
to put next to1896
to put (one) wise (to)1896
voice1898
in the picture1900
to give (someone) a line on1903
to wise up1905
drum1908
hip1932
to fill (someone) in on1945
clue1948
background1961
to mark a person's card1961
to loop in1994
a1225 Juliana (Bodl.) 33 Wite me & were & witere & wisse þurh þi wisdom to wite me wið sunne.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 602 Heȝe Diana..wise me & witere [read wite me; c1300 Otho witte me]..whuder ich mæi liðan.
a1375 Joseph Arim. l. 466 Ho has witered hire of þis and ho has hire uenned?
?a1400 Morte Arth. 1239 I witter þe þe emperour es entirde in-to Fraunce.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1587 When ho was wytered bi wyȝes what was þe cause.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1552 To wayte þe wryt þat hit wolde & wyter hym to say.
a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) vi. l. 2220 Þai thoucht..for to cum in prewate On hym or he sulde wyttride [a1500 Wemyss witterit] be.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
witterv.2
/ˈwɪtə/, U.S. /ˈwɪdər/, Scottish English /ˈwɪtər/ colloquial (originally Scottish and dialect).
To chatter or mutter; to grumble; to speak with annoying lengthiness on trivial matters. Occasionally transitive. Frequently const. on.
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
1808 A. Scott Poems (ed. 2) 82 The winking swankies whitter, An' fondly ee some female band.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 397 Whitter, to murmur, to grumble, to complain... ‘Don't whitter so.’
1886 R. E. G. Cole Gloss. Words S.-W. Lincs. 168 I witter my-sen at times, and my husband tells me I'm a regular wittering old woman.
1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 21 A clecken o guidweives at a gairdeen-yett whuttert ti other whan they eyed iz.
1959 J. Braine Vodi vii. 104 ‘You don't have to whitter on about one little suicide blonde.’ ‘She's a real blonde,’ Tom said.
1966 ‘O. Mills’ Enemies of Bride ii. 16 You might..try making the tea, instead of wittering on about Cordon Bleu methods.
1973 Where Jan. 13/2 Don't whitter away at every item [on the agenda], giving up at the first unsatisfactory explanation. Make your choice of issue, then take your time.
1981 R. D. Edwards Corridors of Death i. 4 The questions which those who had spotted him as the man-in-the-know were wittering at him.
1981 R. D. Edwards Corridors of Death xxxvi. 164 It wasn't like Robert to witter on like this.
1982 Observer 3 Oct. 9/2 If I wasn't going to hear the Tories wittering on in Brighton this week, I'd be in Frankfurt listening to publishers wittering on at the annual Book Fair.
Derivatives
ˈwittering adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [adjective] > waffling or rambling
rambling1693
waffling1698
maundering1850
wittering1886
waffly1964
1886 [see main sense].
1983 Listener 20 Jan. 5/2 A really wittering, patronising speech programme is a worse insult to the intelligence than the most fatuous disc jockey.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.11513n.21775
adj.1c1100adj.2c1175v.1a1225v.21808