I. noun
or cot·tar ˈkäd.ə(r), -ätə-
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English cottar, cotar, from Medieval Latin cottarius, cotarius, from Middle English cot (I) + Latin -arius -ary — more at cot
1.
a. : cottier 2
b. : cottier 3
2. : a peasant of a class of medieval English villeins ranking next above the slaves and below the bordars and usually including the coscets
3. in Scotland
a. : a peasant occupying a small holding originally in return for services
b. : a peasant tenant similar to the Irish cottier
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably freq. of cot (IV)
1. dialect Britain
a. : mat , entangle
b. : clot , congeal , coagulate
2. dialect England : shrivel , shrink , pucker , wither — often used with up
III. noun
also cottar “
( -s )
Etymology: short for cotterel
1.
a. : a wedge-shaped or tapered piece used to fasten together parts of a machine or structure by being driven into a tapered opening through one or all the parts — called also key
b. : cotter pin
2. : toggle
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to fasten with a cotter