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
   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

Kishida's team collaborated with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist neurosurgeons Stephen B. Tatter, M.D., and Adrian W. Laxton, M.D., who are also both faculty members in the Department of Neurosurgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, to insert a carbon fiber microelectrode deep into the brain of three participants at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center who were scheduled to receive DBS to treat essential tremor.

From Science Daily

If you’re wondering whether your DIY cutoff clothes will fray and tatter, making you look like a Victorian street urchin, I’d urge you to check your assumptions about Victorian street urchins—many were quite well-dressed— and choose your fabrics wisely.

From Slate

Bernstein has long had an affinity for a soft, romantic style and creates products like the silk velvet tatter ruffle square pillow and silk velvet ruffle throws.

From Seattle Times

They tatter rose blooms, and they’ve been known to devastate dahlia flowers overnight.

From Seattle Times

In the theater and when dancing, the tails looked like butterfly wings flying, but on the battlefield, we had to tatter and tear them, make them full of holes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• erode
• frazzle
• unravel
• wear away