stutter

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

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈstʌɾɚ/
• Rhymes: -ʌtə(r)

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

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

   He stuttered a few words of thanks.

2. (intransitive) To exhaust a gas with difficulty

   The engine of the old car stuttered going up the slope. I was stuttering after the marathon.

• (speak with spasmodic repetition): stammer

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