C17: variant of earlier dadder; related to Norwegian dudra to tremble
dodder in British English2
(ˈdɒdə)
noun
any rootless parasitic plant of the convolvulaceous genus Cuscuta, lacking chlorophyll and having slender twining stems with suckers for drawing nourishment from the host plant, scalelike leaves, and whitish flowers
Word origin
C13: of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch, Middle Low German dodder, Middle High German toter
dodder in American English1
(ˈdɑdər)
verb intransitive
1.
to shake or tremble, as from old age
2.
to be unsteady; totter
Word origin
ME daderen, akin to OE dyderian, to confuse, delude, MDu doten, dote < IE *dheudh-, to whirl in confusion, shake (> Gr thysanos, fringe) < base *dheu-; see dull
dodder in American English2
(ˈdɑdər)
noun
any of a genus (Cuscuta) of parasitic plants of the morning-glory family, lacking leaves, roots, and chlorophyll, but having special suckers for drawing nourishment from the host
Word origin
ME doder < Late OE dodder < same base as dodder1: akin to dial. dodder, quaking-grass & Ger dotter, egg yolk
Examples of 'dodder' in a sentence
dodder
I don't think Evan Jones will ever dodder even if he does stutter.
Secombe, Fred GOODBYE CURATE
Synonyms of 'dodder'
totter, shake, stagger, sway
More Synonyms of dodder
(verb)
Definition
to move unsteadily
Synonyms
totter
The balconies begin to tremble and totter in the smoke and fumes.
shake
I stood there, crying and shaking with fear.
stagger
He was staggering and had to lean on the bar.
sway
shuffle
She shuffled across the kitchen.
tremble
He began to tremble all over.
shiver
He shivered in the cold.
quake
Her shoulders quaked.
shamble
quiver
His bottom lip quivered and big tears rolled down his cheeks.
teeter
He watched the cup teeter on the edge before it fell.
quaver
Her voice quavered and she fell silent.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of quake
Definition
to shudder because of instability
Her shoulders quaked.
Synonyms
shake,
tremble,
quiver,
move,
rock,
shiver,
throb,
shudder,
wobble,
waver,
vibrate,
pulsate,
quail,
totter,
convulse
in the sense of quaver
Definition
(esp. of the voice) to quiver or tremble
Her voice quavered and she fell silent.
Synonyms
tremble,
shake,
quiver,
thrill,
quake,
shudder,
flicker,
flutter,
waver,
vibrate,
pulsate,
oscillate,
trill,
twitter
in the sense of quiver
Definition
to shake with a tremulous movement; tremble
His bottom lip quivered and big tears rolled down his cheeks.