stutter

From Middle English stutten, stoten (“stutter”); cognate with Dutch stotteren (“stutter”).

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈstʌtɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈstʌtə/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• Rhymes: -ʌtə(ɹ)

stutter (third-person singular simple present stutters, present participle stuttering, simple past and past participle stuttered)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To speak (words) with a spasmodic repetition of vocal sounds.

   Synonyms: (chiefly Britain, dialectal, archaic) hacker, stammer

   He stuttered a few words of thanks.

2. (intransitive) To expel a gas with difficulty.

   I was stuttering after the marathon.

   The engine of the old car stuttered going up the slope.

stutter (plural stutters)

1. A speech disorder characterised by stuttering.

   Synonym: stammer

2. (obsolete) One who stutters.

   Synonyms: stutterer, stammerer

   • 1626, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum, London: William Lee, IV. Century, p. 103,

     And many Stutters (we finde) are very Cholericke Men; Choler Enducing a Drinesse in the Tongue.

• Truetts, tutters