tatter
verbEtymology From Middle English tater, from Old Norse tǫturr, from Proto-Germanic *tat(t)uraz (“tuft, patch”). Cognate with Icelandic tötur (“rag, tatter”).
1
To destroy an article of clothing etc. by shredding.
2
To fall into tatters.
tatter
noun/ˈtætə(ɹ)/
Etymology From Middle English tater, from Old Norse tǫturr, from Proto-Germanic *tat(t)uraz (“tuft, patch”). Cognate with Icelandic tötur (“rag, tatter”).
1
A shred of torn cloth; an individual item of torn and ragged clothing.
- You can’t – you shan’t – you don’t – you won’t – you thing of rag and tatter, O!1896, “Well You're a Pretty Kind of Fellow”, William S. Gilbert (lyrics), Sir Arthur Sullivan (music):