rotter

American  

[rot-er] / ˈrɒt ər /

noun

Chiefly British Slang.

1. a thoroughly bad, worthless, or objectionable person.

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rotter British  

/ ˈrɒtə /

noun

1. slang a worthless, unpleasant, or despicable person

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Etymology

Origin of rotter

First recorded in 1890–95; rot + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Some of that is embodied by accomplished performers — Danny Huston is always good as an eloquent rotter — but there isn’t much intrigue or conviction.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2023

He was Ryan Gosling’s rotter brother in the first five minutes of Only God Forgives and Felicity Jones’s benevolent fella in the last part of The Invisible Woman.

From The Guardian • Aug. 16, 2019

The shadow of the English public school - and the English class system - falls across many of these, although Lineker is unlikely to have been using rotter in this context.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2013

Will it really cause your little rotter to fall asleep?

From New York Times • Dec. 23, 2012

Peeves wasn’t helping matters; he kept popping up in the crowded corridors singing “Oh, Potter, you rotter . . .” now with a dance routine to match.

From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling