potter2
Origin of potter2
Related Words
stagnationlethargyloiterfidgetfoolinterferetorpordormancytorpidityslothfulnessslouchidlenessslothleisureloafingshiftlessnessstuporslownesstruancyindolenceExamples from the Web for pottering
Historical Examples
I could manage the little jobs that I'd get—in fact, pottering about at them would do me good.
The Great HungerJohan Bojer
He left the room and she heard him pottering in the kitchen.
The Paliser caseEdgar Saltus
Just as if we hadn't had enough tinkering and pottering lately.
The men were a sculptor, pottering with clay, and his model.
The Wit of a Duck and Other PapersJohn Burroughs
Harlan was engaged in that pleasant pastime known as “pottering.”
At the Sign of the Jack O'LanternMyrtle Reed
potter1
- a person who makes pottery
potter2
esp US and Canadian putter
- (intr; often foll by about or around) to busy oneself in a desultory though agreeable manner
- (intr; often foll by along or about) to move with little energy or directionto potter about town
- (tr usually foll by away) to waste (time)to potter the day away
- the act of pottering
Word Origin
Potter
- (Helen) Beatrix. 1866–1943, British author and illustrator of children's animal stories, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)
- Dennis (Christopher George). 1935–94, British dramatist. His TV plays include Pennies from Heaven (1978), The Singing Detective (1986), and Blackeyes (1989)
- Paulus. 1625–54, Dutch painter, esp of animals
- Stephen. 1900–70, British humorist and critic. Among his best-known works are Gamesmanship (1947) and One-Upmanship (1952), on the art of achieving superiority over others
Word Origin and History for pottering
potter
n.
"maker of pots" (they also sometimes doubled as bell-founders), late Old English pottere "potter," reinforced by Old French potier "potter," agent noun from root of pot (n.1). As a surname from late 12c. Potter's field (1520s) is Biblical, a ground where clay suitable for pottery was dug, later purchased by high priests of Jerusalem as a burying ground for strangers, criminals, and the poor (Matt. xxvii:7). An older Old English word for "potter" was crocwyrhta "crock-wright."
potter
v.
"occupy oneself in a trifling way," 1740, earlier "to poke again and again" (1520s), frequentative of obsolete verb poten "to push, poke," from Old English potian "to push" (see put (v.)). Sense of "occupy oneself in a trifling way" is first recorded 1740. Related: Pottered; pottering.