Cotter vs Totter - What's the difference?
cotter | totter |
(mechanical engineering) A pin or wedge inserted through a slot to hold machine parts together.
(informal) a cotter pin.
To walk, move or stand unsteadily or falteringly; threatening to fall.
*{{quote-magazine, date=2014-04-21, volume=411, issue=8884, magazine=(The Economist)
, title= (archaic) To collect junk or scrap.
As nouns the difference between cotter and totter
is that cotter is (mechanical engineering) a pin or wedge inserted through a slot to hold machine parts together or cotter can be a peasant who performed labour in exchange for the right to live in a cottage while totter is an unsteady movement or gait.As verbs the difference between cotter and totter
is that cotter is to fasten with a cotter while totter is to walk, move or stand unsteadily or falteringly; threatening to fall.cotter
English
Etymology 1
Noun
(en noun)Usage notes
The terms cotter' and "cotter pin" are sometimes used interchangeably, although they have different functions. Basically a '''cotter''' holds parts together and a "cotter pin" holds the ' cotter in its place. For a more detailed explanation see Wikipedia articles on (cotter) and (cotter pin).Etymology 2
Equivalent to .Alternative forms
* cottarSynonyms
* (l) * (l)totter
English
Verb
(en verb)Subtle effects, passage=Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese, a silvery metal, began to totter , slur their speech and behave like someone inebriated.}}
