tatter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A shred of torn cloth; an individual item of torn and ragged clothing.

   You can’t – you shan’t – you don’t – you won’t – you thing of rag and tatter, O!

2. 2
   noun

   a small piece of cloth or paper

3. 3
   verb

   To destroy an article of clothing etc. by shredding.

4. 4
   verb

   To fall into tatters.

5. 5
   noun

   A person engaged in tatting.

Etymology

From Middle English tater, from Old Norse tǫturr, from Proto-Germanic *tat(t)uraz (“tuft, patch”). Cognate with Icelandic tötur (“rag, tatter”).