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Synonyms

tatter

1 American  
[tat-er] / ˈtæt ər /

noun

  1. a torn piece hanging loose from the main part, as of a garment or flag.

  2. a separate torn piece; shred.

  3. tatters, torn or ragged clothing.

    dressed in rags and tatters.

verb (used with object)

  1. to tear or wear to tatters.

verb (used without object)

  1. to become ragged.

tatter 2 American  
[tat-er] / ˈtæt ər /

noun

  1. a person who does tatting, tatting, especially as an occupation.

tatter British  
/ ˈtætə /

verb

  1. to make or become ragged or worn to shreds

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. (plural) torn or ragged pieces, esp of material

    1. torn to pieces; in shreds

    2. destroyed or ruined

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tatter1

1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English < Old Norse tǫturr rag, tatter; akin to Old English tætteca rag, shred; (v.) back formation from tattered

Origin of tatter2

First recorded in 1880–85; tat + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For example, Border Morris, originating in the Welsh border counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, features performers who wear tatter coats and often paint their faces or use other forms of disguise.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2024

Bernstein has long had an affinity for a soft, romantic style and creates products like the silk velvet tatter ruffle square pillow and silk velvet ruffle throws.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 4, 2022

In the theater and when dancing, the tails looked like butterfly wings flying, but on the battlefield, we had to tatter and tear them, make them full of holes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2022

In boxing, these guys have great vision, because you got to be able to see an opening, and when he's got an opening he would just tatter you, like a machine gun punch.

From Salon • May 5, 2019

When you collect marine animals there are certain flat worms so delicate that they are almost impossible to capture whole, for they break and tatter under the touch.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.