Atter

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈætÉ™/

Alternative forms

• attir, etter Scotland

Origin

From Middle English atter, ater, from Old English āttor, ǣttor, ātor ("poison"), from Proto-Germanic *aitrą ("gland, matter"), from Proto-Indo-European *ayd-, *oyd- ("tumor, abscess"). Cognate with Scots attir ("corrupt matter, pus"), Scots atter, etter ("poison, venom"), Saterland Frisian Atter ("pus"), Dutch etter ("pus"), German Eiter ("poison, pus"), Danish edder, ædder ("venom"), Swedish etter ("poison, venom, virulence"), Norwegian eiter ("venom"), Icelandic eitur ("poison").

Full definition of atter

Noun

1. (archaic or UK dialectal) Poison, venom, especially of a venomous animal.
2. (archaic or UK dialectal) Pus, corrupt or morbid matter from a sore or wound.
3. (UK dialectal) Epithelium produced on the tongue.
4. (UK dialectal) A scab; a dry sore.

Derived terms

• attercop
• atteril
• attering
• atterly
• attermite
• attern
• atter-pile
• atterscar
• attery

Verb

1. (UK dialectal) To venom; sting.
2. (UK dialectal) To discharge, as a sore; clot; curdle; cake.

Anagrams

• tater
• tetra
• treat