tatter Hear it!

tatter definition

tat·ter (tat′ər)

noun

  1. a torn and hanging shred or piece, as of a garment
  2. a separate shred or scrap; rag
  3. torn, ragged clothes

Etymology: ME, prob. < ON töturr, rags, tatters, akin to Ger zotte, tuft < IE base *dā(i)-, to cut out, divide > tide

transitive verb

to reduce to tatters; make ragged

intransitive verb

to become ragged

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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