[-ING1.]
1. The action of the verb STAMMER; hesitation and involuntary repetition in speech; also (now dial.) staggering and stumbling in gait. Also fig.
1357. Lay Folks Catech. (T.), 541. For idelnesse is enmy to cristen man saule Stepmodir and stameryng agayne gode thewes.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 472/1. Stamerynge, yn speche. Ibid. Stamerynge, in goyng.
1584. Lyly, Campaspe, Epil. at Blacke Fryers, As Demosthenes with often breathing vp the hill amended his stammering.
1589. R. Bruce, Serm. Sacr., V. (1843), 148. He forgives thir doutings, he forgives thir stammerings.
1607. Markham, Caval., IV. (1617), 49. When you have brought him to the perfitnes of his pace, so that he will doe it … without anie stammering or straining of his tramels. Ibid. (1621), Fowling, 270. That then presently he [the dog] doe the same, without any stamering, stay, or amazement.
1790. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 15. There is also a confusion of language which resembles the stammering of one who endeavours to excuse a misdeed which he resolves to commit.
1856. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., I. ii. 53. Cases of stammering, in which … the organ of speech is more or less imperfect.
2. transf. in certain Pathological uses.
1855. Dunglison, Med. Lex., Stammering of the Fingers.
1868. Paget, in Brit. Med. Jrnl., 24 Oct., 437/1. The stammering with the bladder occurs in just the same conditions as the stammering speech. Ibid., 437/2. The characters of stammering with the organs of deglutition may … be recognised by their likeness to those of urinary stammering.
