Totter
/ˈtɒt.ər/noun
To move in an unsteady, shaky, or precarious way.
Did you know?Totter is probably a native English expressive word, built from repeated sounds that imitate shaky movement rather than from a dramatic ancient root, which makes it a rare case where the word’s power comes from pure sound-symbolism.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
English
totrian
“to shake or tremble”
Middle English
English
toteren
“to shake, rock, or move unsteadily”
15th Century
English
totteren
“to sway or wobble from weakness or insecurity”
Modern English
English
totter
“to move unsteadily or precariously”