▪ I. ˈflaughter, n. Sc.
Also 5–9 flauchter, (6 -tir), 9 flachter.
[prob. a parallel formation to flaught n.1, with suffix -tro- instead of -tu-.]
A paring of turf. Also Comb., flaughter-fail, a turf cut with a flaughter-spade, i.e. a breast-plough used for this purpose.
1492 Act. Dom. Conc. (1839) 288 Twa hingand lokis, a flauchter sped, a cruk [etc.]. a 1550 Christis Kirke Gr. xxii, For faintness thae forfochtin fulis Fell doun lyk flauchtir fails. 1799 J. Robertson Agric. Perth 247 The spade for paring ought to be similar to that used in Scotland for casting Turf, provincially the Flaughter-spade. 1818 Edin. Mag. Oct. 331 A sufficient quantity of flauchter-fail was pared from the eastern side of a hill. 1846 Brockett Gloss. N.C. Words (ed. 3), Flaughter, the thin turf turned up when ground is pared. |
▪ II. ˈflaughter, v.1 Sc.
Also 9 fla(u)chter.
[f. prec.]
‘To pare turf from the ground’ (Jam.).
1721 Gloss. in Ramsay's Wks. I. 388. |
▪ III. flaughter, v.2 Sc. and north. dial.
(ˈflaxtər)
Also 8 flauchter, 8–9 flawter.
[app. f. flaught n.2; cf. flichter, floghter vbs.]
1. intr. To make a fluttering motion; also of a light, to flicker.
1789 D. Davidson Seasons 84 The wild duck..Fast flaughters, quacking to the farther shore. 1816 Scott Antiq. xxi, ‘He wad hae seen a glance o' the light frae the door o' the cave, flaughtering against the hazels on the other bank.’ |
2. a. intr. To be in a flutter; to be angry or afraid. b. trans. To put into a flutter; to frighten, flurry.
1787 Grose Prov. Gloss., Flawter, to be angry or afraid. N. 1847 Whistlebinkie (Sc. Songs) (1890) II. 238 His muckle thick skull she would flaughter. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss., ‘I was sair flowter'd.’ |
Hence ˈflaughter n., a fluttering motion, flutter.
1789 D. Davidson Seasons 42 The swallows pop Wi lazy flaughter, on the gutter dub. |