Sc. and north. [A derivative from SNOT sb., corresponding to MDu. snoter, MLG. snotter, G. dial. schnotter, schnodder: cf. Du. and LG. snotterig snotty. Sense 3 is prob. f. SNOT v.]
1. Snot or nasal mucus. Also used fig. to denote something of little or no value, significance or importance.
Various other dial. senses and attrib. uses are recorded in the Eng. Dial. Dict.
a. 1689. W. Cleland, Poems (1697), 109 (Jam.).
| Hence I inferr, though I’m no Plotter, | |
| No Help nor Gloss can weigh a snotter. |
1720. Ramsay, Rise & Fall of Stocks. 110. Coachmen, grooms, or pasment trotter, Glitter’d a while, then turn’d to snoter.
a. 1779. D. Graham, Writ. (1883), II. 154. A weel blooded hissie … that carefully comb the young things’ heads,… snites the snotter frae their nose [etc.].
1808–. in Sc. and north. dial. glossaries.
1836. J. Struthers, Dychmont, II. Wks. 1850, II. 70. Brats in rags, inch thick with snotter.
attrib. a. 1779. D. Graham, Yng. Coalman’s Courtship (1786), 2. His mither … blew her snotter-box, primed her nose, kindled her tobacco-pipe [etc.].
2. attrib. and pl. (See quots.)
1781. J. Hutton, Tour to Caves (ed. 2), Gloss. 96. Snotter-gob, the red part of a turkey’s head.
1832. C. M. Goodridge, Voy. S. Seas, 30. The parts [of the Sea Elephant] we made use of for food, were the heart,… the snotters, (a sort of fleshy skin which hangs over the nose,) and the flippers.
3. slang. (See quots.)
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, Snotter, a ragged, dirty kerchief.
1864. Slang Dict., 239. Snotter, or wipe-hauler, a pickpocket who commits great depredations upon gentlemen’s pocket-handkerchiefs.
