cotter

¹ American  

[kot-er] / ˈkɒt ər /

noun

1. a pin, wedge, key, or the like, fitted or driven into an opening to secure something or hold parts together.

2. cotter pin.

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verb (used with object)

1. to secure with a cotter.

cotter ² American  

[kot-er] / ˈkɒt ər /

noun

1. Scot. a person occupying a plot of land and cottage, paid for in services.

2. cottager.

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cotter ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒtə /

noun

1. any part, such as a pin, wedge, key, etc, that is used to secure two other parts so that relative motion between them is prevented

2. short for cotter pin

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verb

1. (tr) to secure (two parts) with a cotter

cotter ² British  

/ ˈkɒtə /

noun

1. Also called: cottier.  English history a villein in late Anglo-Saxon and early Norman times occupying a cottage and land in return for labour

2. Also called: cottar.  a peasant occupying a cottage and land in the Scottish Highlands under the same tenure as an Irish cottier

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Etymology

Origin of cotter¹

1300–50; Middle English coter; akin to late Middle English coterell iron bracket; of uncertain origin

Origin of cotter²

1175–1225; Middle English cotere < Anglo-French cot ( i ) er; cot ², -er ²

Example Sentences

She did say she had once heard her doctor refer to a country he called “cotter” on the phone.

From Seattle Times

In about an hour the forest began to thin, and Robin could see the blue smoke coming from the cotters’ chimney pots.

From Literature

The inspector general said the airline’s maintenance provider failed to insert a cotter pin on a critical flight control component that put some 30,000 passengers at risk.

From Reuters

The aircraft was missing a small cotter safety pin used to hold a nut in place, and that nut came loose - disconnecting pilots’ controls from the rotor, said Maj.

From Washington Times

Attorney Timothy Loranger says a missing safety cotter pin caused a malfunction in the helicopter’s tail rotor.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• chunk