tatter

¹

[ tat-er ]

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

[ tat-er ]

noun

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

tatter

/ ˈtætə /

verb

1. to make or become ragged or worn to shreds

noun

1. plural torn or ragged pieces, esp of material
2. in tatters
   in tatters
   1. torn to pieces; in shreds
   2. destroyed or ruined

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tatter¹

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic töturr rag, Old English tættec, Old High German zæter rag

Example Sentences

After this arduous start to our journey, I was, of course, disgusting and exhausted, emerging from the swamp in tatters.

From Outside Online

Though most of the Spaniards survived the attack, they retreated west, the expedition in tatters.

From Popular-Science

Pong becomes a hero to Tiller, who is running, perhaps, from the sad tatters of his family life, which has been defined by his mother’s inexplicable and abrupt abandonment of him and his father.

From Washington Post

More often than not, James has been able to turn the corner on Robinson or Herro and get downhill with zero bodies in his path, time his own pull-up three or even split the defense and leave it in tatters.

From FiveThirtyEight

They were weary, ragged, lean—seven very tatter-demalions—and the front man led them, tapping the ground with a long stick.

From Project Gutenberg

Only here and there toward its lower rim a tatter in it revealed the giant's rugged brown muscle of volcanic rock.

From Project Gutenberg

You go round by Tatter Brook, says he, an climb the hill from behind.

From Project Gutenberg

Now quite unexpectedly we saw the "tatter of scarlet" from a new angle.

From Project Gutenberg

A lump of beeswax, with a tatter of an old handkerchief run through it, makes a candle on an emergency.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• erode
• frazzle
• unravel
• wear away