/ ˈpɒtə(r); NAmE ˈpɑːt-/ verb , noun
■ verb
( BrE ) ( NAmE putt·er ) [ v + adv. / prep. ] to do things or move without hurrying, especially when you are doing sth that you enjoy and that is not important :
I spent the day pottering around the house.
■ noun
a person who makes clay pots by hand
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WORD ORIGIN
verb mid 16th cent. (in the sense poke repeatedly ): frequentative of dialect pote to push, kick, or poke of unknown origin.
noun late Old English pottere (see pot container , -er ).