potter

nounverbcommon in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈpɒtə//
United States//ˈpɑtɚ//

One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.

noun

1
One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.
shoemakers, weavers, potters, bronzeworkers who produced and purveyed the articles necessary for daily life.
2
One who places flowers or other plants inside their pots.
3
One who pots meats or other eatables.
4
One who hawks crockery or earthenware.
the convivial society of gipsies, tinkers, potters, strolling players, &c.
5
The red-bellied terrapin, Pseudemys rubriventris (species of turtle).
6
The chicken turtle, Deirochelys reticularia.

Etymology

From Middle English pottere, from Old English pottere (“potter”, in placenames), from Proto-West Germanic *pottārī (“pot-maker”), equivalent to pot + -er. Influenced by Anglo-Norman poter, Old French potier (“potter”). Cognate with Dutch potter (“potter”), German Low German Pötter, Pütter (“potter”). Displaced Old English synonyms lāmwyrhta (“a worker in clay, potter”, literally “loam-worker”), tiġelwyrhta (“brickmaker, potter”, literally “tile-worker”), crocwyrhta (“crocker, potter”, literally “crock-worker”).

verb

1
To act in a vague or unmotivated way; to fuss about with unimportant things.
2
To move slowly or aimlessly. (Often potter about, potter around.)
He’s so dreamy and absent-minded. He potters about the garden all the time.
"We love our little diesel trains. They potter up and down. They break down. The C6 overhaul is only a temporary answer. By the time they are replaced, they will be 45 years old.
3
obsoleteTo poke repeatedly.

Etymology

Frequentative of pote, equivalent to pote + -er. Cognate with Dutch poteren, peuteren (“to poke, pry, search”).

Forms

plural: potters
past tense: pottered
past participle: pottered
present participle: pottering
third person singular: potters

potentially · In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of…potion · A small portion or dose of a liquid which is medicinal,…pots · A large quantity.

potter · One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.

Potter · A person from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK pottery · Fired ceramic wares that contain clay when formed.potty · A chamber pot.

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