v. & n.
--v.
1. intr. speak (habitually, or on occasion from embarrassment etc.) with halting articulation, esp. with pauses or rapid repetitions of the same syllable.
2 tr. (often foll. by out) utter (words) in this way (stammered out an excuse).
--n.
1. a tendency to stammer.
2 an instance of stammering.
Derivatives:
stammerer n. stammeringly adv.
Etymology: OE stamerian f. WG