I. put·ter ˈpu̇d.ə(r), -u̇tə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English puttere, from putten to put + -ere -er
1. : one that puts
a putter of questions
2. : pusher 1e
II. putt·er ˈpəd.ə(r), -ətə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: putt (III) + -er
1. : a golf club with a short shaft and almost perpendicular face that is used in putting
2. : one that putts
III. put·ter ˈpəd.ə(r), -ətə- intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration of potter (II)
1.
a. : to move or act without plan or purpose : occupy oneself aimlessly — usually used with about or around
rising now and then to putter about the room — Laura Krey
if he sold the business, what would he do with himself all day? Putter around — Scribner's
b. : to move or act slowly or lackadaisically : dawdle
a slow train that puttered along on a narrow-gage track — Christopher Rand
you're always puttering … now I want you to hustle — Sherwood Anderson
2. : to look casually : browse
it is as much fun to putter through as a family album or a municipal museum — Helen B. Woodward
3. : to work at random : tinker
was puttering with a small stove — Joseph Wechsberg
so enthusiastic are they about the work that they return to putter even on their days off — National Geographic
• put·ter·er -ərə(r) noun -s
IV. putter intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: imit
: to proceed or operate by means of a small gasoline engine
motor whaleboats puttered back and forth between the anchorage and the beach — New Yorker
they puttered on upon a steady course towards the west — Nevil Shute
puttering motorcycles — W.H.Hale