Pot"ter (?), n. [Cf. F. potier.]
1.
One whose occupation is to make earthen vessels.
Ps. ii. 9.
The potter heard, and stopped his wheel.
Longfellow.
2.
One who hawks crockery or earthenware.
[Prov. Eng.]
De Quincey.
3.
One who pots meats or other eatables.
4. Zool.
The red-bellied terrapin. See Terrapin.
Potter's asthma Med., emphysema of the lungs; -- so called because very prevalent among potters. Parkers. -- Potter's clay. See under Clay. -- Potter's field, a public burial place, especially in a city, for paupers, unknown persons, and criminals; -- so named from the field south of Jerusalem, mentioned in Matt. xxvii. 7. -- Potter's ore. See Alquifou. -- Potter's wheel, a horizontal revolving disk on which the clay is molded into form with the hands or tools. "My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel." Shak. Potter wasp Zool., a small solitary wasp (Eumenes fraternal) which constructs a globular nest of mud and sand in which it deposits insect larvae, such as cankerworms, as food for its young.
© Webster 1913.
Pot"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pottered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pottering.] [Cf. W. pwtio to poke, or OD. poteren to search one thoroughly, Sw. px86;ta, peta, to pick, E. pother, put.]
1.
To busy one's self with trifles; to labor with little purpose, energy, of effect; to trifle; to pother.
<-- = putter. A reverse ref at putter, but no forward ref here! -->
Pottering about the Mile End cottages.
Mrs. Humphry Ward.
2.
To walk lazily or idly; to saunter.
© Webster 1913.
Pot"ter, v. t.
To poke; to push; also, to disturb; to confuse; to bother.
[Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
© Webster 1913.