north. dial. Forms: 5 ȝedd-, yeddyr, 6 ȝedder, 7–9 yeather, 8–9 yether, 9 yadder, 6– yedder. [Variant of EDDER sb.]
1. An osier, or rod of pliant wood, used for binding a hedge. Also attrib.
1512–3. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 106. Pro cariag. xij plaustrat. lez thornes, ȝedders, et rysez ad prædict. sepes.
17[?]. [see STRUT sb.2 1 b].
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, 152. A yeather, vimen.
1764. Museum Rust., III. iv. 10. Yethers (as binders of hassel or willow are here [sc. Yorks.] called).
1779. Charlton, Hist. Whitby, 96. A certain stake and yether hedge.
1829. J. Hodgson, in J. Raine, Mem. (1858), II. 156. Great abundance of fine osiers will be thus produced, but a few of the strongest shoots should be left on each stake, for other stakes and poles and yeathers.
1852. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIII. II. 281. Farmers find posts and rails cheaper … than the old system of ‘stake and vice.’ Footnote. Called … in some parts … ‘stower and yedder.’
1876. Whitby Gloss., Yethers, oziers and similar flexibilities.
2. The mark of a blow or stripe, or that made by tight binding; a weal. Also, a smart blow.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 286. He … grapyd his bakk, & it was passand sare & full of yeddyrs & wowndis as he had bene betyn.
1483. Cath. Angl., 426/1. A ȝeddyr, liuor, vibex.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xxviii. 17. The stroke of ye rod maketh yedders.
1802. Sibbald, Chron. S. P., IV. Gloss., Yether, the mark left by tight binding, as with a small cord.
1825. Jamieson, Yether,… a severe blow, Upp. Clydes.
1877. Holderness Gloss., Yether, a discolouration of the skin caused by a blow.
Hence Yedder v. (see quots.).
[1523. edderinges: see EDDER.
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, 152. Eathering of hedges being binding the tops of them with small sticks as it were wooven on the stakes.]
1818. Hogg, Brownie of Bodsbeck, etc. II. 131. I hae heard o’ some o’ them that fought the deil,… yethered him and yerked him till he coudna mou’ another curse.
1825. Jamieson, To Yether,… to bind firmly, Roxb.
1825. in Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 1381. Yadder them with your yadders, and … stake them on each side, with street stowers.
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., To Yedder or Yether, to interweave or connect with pliable twigs or osiers a row of upright sticks or stobs in hedge work. Ibid. (1876), Yether, v. to interweave with twigs, as in basket-making.
1877. Holderness Gloss., Yether, v. to lash with a whip.
