potter

¹

[pot-er]

noun

1. a person who makes pottery.

potter

²

[pot-er]

verb (used without object)

Chiefly British.

1. putter.

Potter

³

[pot-er]

noun

1. Beatrix 1866–1943, English writer and illustrator of children's books.

2. Paul, 1625–54, Dutch painter.

Potter

¹

/ ˈpɒtə /

noun

1. ( Helen ) Beatrix. 1866–1943, British author and illustrator of children's animal stories, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)

2. Dennis ( Christopher George ). 1935–94, British dramatist. His TV plays include Pennies from Heaven (1978), The Singing Detective (1986), and Blackeyes (1989)

3. Paulus. 1625–54, Dutch painter, esp of animals

4. Stephen. 1900–70, British humorist and critic. Among his best-known works are Gamesmanship (1947) and One-Upmanship (1952), on the art of achieving superiority over others

potter

²

/ ˈpɒtə /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by about or around) to busy oneself in a desultory though agreeable manner

2. (intr; often foll by along or about) to move with little energy or direction

   to potter about town

3. to waste (time)

   to potter the day away

noun

1. the act of pottering

potter

³

/ ˈpɒtə /

noun

1. a person who makes pottery

Other Word Forms

• potterer noun
• potteringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of Potter¹

before 1100; Middle English; late Old English pottere. See pot ¹, -er ¹

Origin of Potter²

1520–30; frequentative of obsolete, dial. pote to push, poke, Middle English poten, Old English potian to push, thrust. See put, -er ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of Potter¹

C16 (in the sense: to poke repeatedly): from Old English potian to thrust; see _put

Example Sentences

At first glance, the potter wasp appears to be riding a broomstick.

From BBC

While ceramics were widely used and vast amounts of pottery survive, there are relatively few details known about the potters themselves, in comparison to other ancient Egyptian craftsmen.

From BBC

Prof Irish was also able to establish he was probably a potter.

From BBC

Often he would wake up to the rhythmic sound of his father at work at his potter's wheel.

From BBC

"It really set me back, because I used to be able – in my own time – potter around the house and do a wee bit of gardening," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• fidget 
• fool 
• interfere