potter

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɒtə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑtɚ/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -ɒtə(ɹ)

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”).

potter (plural potters)

1. One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.
   • 1961, J. A. Philip, “Mimesis in the Sophistês of Plato,”, in Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, volume 92, page 453:

     shoemakers, weavers, potters, bronzeworkers who produced and purveyed the articles necessary for daily life.

2. One who places flowers or other plants inside their pots.
3. One who pots meats or other eatables.
4. One who hawks crockery or earthenware.
   • 1829, Thomas De Quincey, “Professor Wilson”, in Edinburgh Literary Gazette:

     the convivial society of gipsies, tinkers, potters, strolling players, &c.

5. The red-bellied terrapin, Pseudemys rubriventris (species of turtle).
6. The chicken turtle, Deirochelys reticularia.

• (Pseudemys rubriventris): northern red-bellied cooter
• (maker of ceramics): ceramicist

• (Biblical) Bratcher, Dennis Bratcher (2006), The Potter, The Voice CRI/Voice Institute[1]

• potter on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Frequentative of pote, equivalent to pote +‎ -er. Cognate with Dutch poteren, peuteren (“to poke, pry, search”).

• putter, pouter, pudder, pother

potter (third-person singular simple present potters, present participle pottering, simple past and past participle pottered)

1. (UK) To act in a vague or unmotivated way; to fuss about with unimportant things.
2. (UK) To move slowly or aimlessly. (Often potter about, potter around.)
   • 1923, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter II, in Leave It to Psmith:

     He’s so dreamy and absent-minded. He potters about the garden all the time.

   • 2026 February 18, Paul Clifton, “West of England Line problems laid bare”, in RAIL, number 1055, page 7:

     "We love our little diesel trains. They potter up and down. They break down. The C6 overhaul is only a temporary answer. By the time they are replaced, they will be 45 years old.

3. (obsolete) To poke repeatedly.

potter m or f

1. indefinite plural of potte

potter f

1. indefinite plural of potte

potter

1. indefinite plural of pott