Added 10 October 2026
potter
/ˈpɒtə/ noun
In Latin: figulus, fictiliārius Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about potter at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
verb
- To act in a vague or unmotivated way; to fuss about with unimportant things.
- To move slowly or aimlessly. (Often potter about, potter around.)
- To poke repeatedly.
Origin
From Middle English pottere, from Old English pottere (“potter”, in placenames), from Proto-West Germanic *pottārī (“pot-maker”), equivalent to pot + -er. Influenced by Anglo-Norman poter, Old French potier (“potter”). Cognate with Dutch potter (“potter”), German Low German Pötter, Pütter (“potter”). Displaced Old English synonyms lāmwyrhta (“a worker in clay, potter”, literally “loam-worker”), tiġelwyrhta (“brickmaker, potter”, literally “tile-worker”), crocwyrhta (“crocker, potter”, literally “crock-worker”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)