▪ I. tolter, a. (adv.) Sc. and dial.
(ˈtoltər)
Also 6 towter, 9 toolter.
[Late ME.; goes with next; exact relation obscure.]
Moving unsteadily; unsteady, unstable, tottering; insecure, precarious; in quot. 1430–40, giddy. Also as adv. unsteadily.
| 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. ix, Sothe It is, that, on hir tolter quhele, Euery wight cleuerith In his stage. Ibid. clxiv, So tolter quhilum did sche it to-wrye. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas iv. xxiii. (MS. Bodl. 263) 252/1 Tascende the mounteyn, feeble wer ther chynes Ther hedis toltir, & ther brayn gan faille. c 1470 Henryson Orpheus & Eur. 283 Before his [Tantalus'] face ane apill hang also, Fast at his mouth, apon a tolter threid. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 29 That we may all prouyde Sum help, that may put by this towter tide. 1880 Dennison in Orcadian Sketch-Bk. 119 His bowie legs..Wur trumblan' like twa toolter stoops. |
▪ II. ˈtolter, v. dial.
[Early mod.Eng.: app. the same as MDu., Du. touteren to waver, totter, swing, touter a swing, representing an earlier OLG. or OS. *taltrôn (cf. oud:—ald), which exists in a dial. Du. talteren (Franck), = OE. tealtrian to totter, stagger, be unsteady.]
intr. To move unsteadily; to flounder; to turn or toss about; to hobble; to jolt along. Hence ˈtoltering ppl. a.
| 1529 More Suppl. Soulys 43 You walter peraduenture and tolter in syknes fro syde to syde. 1533 ― Answ. Poysoned Bk. Wks. 1039/2 There lyeth he still tumblyng and toltryng in myre. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. II. 76 From..dusty lane, Where home the cart-horse tolters with the swain. |