I. ˈtad.ə(r), -atə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English tater, tatter, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse töturr tatter, rag; akin to Old English tætteca rag, tatter, Old High German zotta matted hair, tuft — more at tod
1.
a. : a part torn and left hanging : rag , shred
tear a passion to tatters — Shakespeare
a stand of ragged gums that drip their tatters of gray bark on to the gravelly paths — T.A.G.Hungerford
b. tatters plural : tattered clothing : rags
the tramp was dressed in tatters
2. archaic : tatterdemalion
a scarecrow tatter of a man — William Goyen
3. also tat·ter·er -ərə(r) : one that collects waste with a cart or barrow : a rag gatherer
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to tear into shreds : to make ragged
intransitive verb
: to become ragged
III. ˈtatə(r) intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: imitative
dialect Britain : bustle , hurry
IV. ˈtad.ə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: tat (IV) + -er
: one that makes tatting