teeter

[tee-ter]Chiefly Northern U.S.

See more synonyms for teeter on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to move unsteadily.
to ride a seesaw; teetertotter.

verb (used with object)

to tip (something) up and down; move unsteadily.

noun

a seesaw motion; wobble.
a seesaw; teetertotter.

Origin of teeter

1835–45; variant of dial. titter, Middle English titeren < Old Norse titra tremble; cognate with German zittern to tremble, quiver

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for teetered

totter, tremble, dangle, stagger, lurch, seesaw, waver, falter, flutter, reel, stumble, topple, quiver, stammer, wiggle, rock, pivot, balance, sway, weave

Examples from the Web for teetered

Contemporary Examples of teetered

In the month since elections produced not one but two presidents, the country has teetered on the abyss of violence.
Civil War Looms in Ivory Coast
Firouzeh Afsharnia
January 3, 2011

Historical Examples of teetered

As she teetered out, it was plain that she was all but in a panic to get away.
The Rich Little Poor Boy
Eleanor Gates
He laid the spoon on the rim of the cup again and teetered it.
The Pagan Madonna
Harold MacGrath
Friar Mathieu turned and teetered precariously at the top of the steps.
The Saracen: The Holy War
Robert Shea
"Well—" He teetered a little on his feet and stroked his mustache.
Hidden Gold
Wilder Anthony
The great stone in the roof, crumbled by ages, slipped and teetered.
Gladiator
Philip Wylie

British Dictionary definitions for teetered

teeter

verb

to move or cause to move unsteadily; wobble

noun, verb

another word for seesaw

Word Origin for teeter

C19: from Middle English titeren, related to Old Norse titra to tremble, Old High German zittarōn to shiver

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

Word Origin and History for teetered

teeter

1843, "to seesaw," alteration of Middle English titter "move unsteadily," probably from Old Norse titra "to shake, shiver, totter," related to German zittern "to tremble." Noun teeter-totter "see-saw" is attested from 1905.