adjective
Etymology: from present participle of totter (I)
1.
a. : being in an unstable condition : oscillating or threatening to collapse : swaying , wobbly
buildings dilapidated and tottering — Wilkie Collins
a tottering wineglass in her hand — George Meredith
b. : walking unsteadily : reeling , wavering
a tottering child just learning to walk
a black pony, a tottering skeleton covered with dirt — Punch
2. : lacking firmness or stability : insecure , shaky
try to bolster a tottering regime by force of arms
made a clutch at his tottering reason and steadied it — F.V.W.Mason
• tot·ter·ing·ly adverb