rottan Now Sc. and dial.
(ˈrɒt(ə)n)
Also 6, 8–9 rotten, 6 rotton.
[var. of ratton. For the difference in vowel cf. Fris. rôt, roat, rotte-, MDu. and MLG. rotte (Du. rot), MSw., Norw., and Icel. rotta (Sw. råtta, Da. rotte).]
A rat.
| ? a 1500 Chester Pl. iii. 179 Here cattis maken it full crowse, here a rotten, here a mowse. 1575 Gamm. Gurton iii. iii, Thou skald, thou bald, thou rotten, thou glutton! I will no longer chide thee. 1673 Wedderburn Voc. 15 (Jam.), Glis, a rotten. 1756 M. Calderwood Jrnl. (1884) 53 Even the poor dancer creept out of bed like a poisoned rottan. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxii, I had them a' regularly entered, first wi' rottens—then wi' stots or weasels. 1886 Brierley Cast upon World 162 They looken as hungry as two rottans. 1894 W. D. Latto Tam. Bodkin vii, The squeekin' o' mice an' rottans. |
b. attrib., as rottan-fall (rat-trap), rottan-hole.
| 1673 Wedderburn Voc. 13 (Jam.), Decipula, a rotten fall. 1839 Moir Mansie Wauch (ed. 2) xxvii, Div ye keep rotten-fa's aboot your premises? 1865 G. Macdonald A. Forbes ii, I hae been seekin' ye..i' the verra rottan-holes. |