What is "potter"

Pother \Poth"er\, n. [Cf. D. peuteren to rummage, poke. Cf. Potter, Pudder.] Bustle; confusion; tumult; flutter; bother. [Written also potter, and pudder.] ``What a pother and stir!''
--Oldham. ``Coming on with a terrible pother.''
--Wordsworth.

Terrapin \Ter"ra*pin\, n. [Probably of American Indian origin.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of tortoises living in fresh and brackish waters. Many of them are valued for food. [Written also terapin, terrapen, terrapene, turpen, and turapen.]

Note: The yellow-bellied terrapin ( Pseudemys scabra) of the Southern United States, the red-bellied terrapin ( Pseudemys rugosa or Chrysemys rubriventris), native of the tributaries Chesapeake Bay (called also potter, slider, and redfender), and the diamond-back or salt-marsh terrapin ( Malaclemmys palustris), are the most important American species. The diamond-back terrapin is native of nearly the whole of the Atlantic coast of the United States.

Alligator terrapin, the snapping turtle.

Mud terrapin, any one of numerous species of American tortoises of the genus Cinosternon.

Painted terrapin, the painted turtle. See under Painted.

Speckled terrapin, a small fresh-water American terrapin ( Chelopus guttatus) having the carapace black with round yellow spots; -- called also spotted turtle.

"maker of pots" (they also sometimes doubled as bell-founders), late Old English pottere "potter," reinforced by Old French potier "potter," both from the root of pot (n.1). As a surname from late 12c. Potter's field (1520s) is Biblical, a ground where clay suitable for pottery was dug, later purchased by high priests of Jerusalem as a burying ground for strangers, criminals, and the poor (Matt. xxvii:7). An older Old English word for "potter" was crocwyrhta "crock-wright."

"occupy oneself in a trifling way," 1740, earlier "to poke again and again" (1520s), frequentative of obsolete verb poten "to push, poke," from Old English potian "to push" (see put (v.)). Related: Pottered; pottering.

Etymology 1 n. 1 One who makes pots and other ceramic wares. 2 (context idiomatic biblical English) God, the creator. 3 One who places flowers or other plants inside their pots. 4 One who pots meats or other eatables. 5 One who hawks crockery or earthenware. 6 The (vern: red-bellied terrapin), (taxlink Pseudemys rubriventris species noshow=1). 7 (taxlink Deirochelys serrata species noshow=1). Etymology 2

alt. 1 (context obsolete English) To poke repeatedly. 2 (context British English) To act in a vague or unmotivated way. 3 (context British English) To move slowly or aimlessly. (Often (term: potter about), (term: potter around)) vb. 1 (context obsolete English) To poke repeatedly. 2 (context British English) To act in a vague or unmotivated way. 3 (context British English) To move slowly or aimlessly. (Often (term: potter about), (term: potter around))

1. v. do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly; "The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house" [syn: putter, mess around, tinker, monkey, monkey around, muck about, muck around]

2. work lightly; "The old lady is pottering around in the garden" [syn: putter]

3. move around aimlessly [syn: putter, potter around, putter around]

n. a craftsman who shapes pottery on a potter's wheel and bakes them it a kiln [syn: thrower, ceramicist, ceramist]

A potter is someone who makes pottery.

Potter may also refer to:

Potter (first name and dates unknown) was an English cricketer who played in first-class cricket for Dartford and Kent during the 1750s and 1760s.

Potter was a 1979 BBC sitcom written by Roy Clarke. Running for three series, it originally starred Arthur Lowe as Redvers Potter, a busybody former sweet manufacturer ("Pottermints - the hotter mints") with time on his hands following retirement. Set in suburban South London, the series followed Potter in his various attempts to keep himself occupied by interfering in other people's business.

The series co-starred Noel Dyson as his wife Aileen, John Barron as the Vicar, Lally Bowers as Redvus' sister Harriet, Ken Wynne as Harriet's eccentric and camp husband Willie and John Warner as "Tolly" Tolliver, his next-door neighbour. Characters in later series included Harry H. Corbett as the comic ex-gangster Harry Tooms and Brenda Cowling as Jane.

The first series comprised 6 episodes, and aired in March–April, 1979. The second series comprised 7 episodes, and aired the following year, from February–April, 1980.

Plans for a third series were already underway when Lowe died (in April 1982), so Lowe was replaced by Robin Bailey in the 7-episode third series, which aired the following year between July–August 1983, after which the series was discontinued.

Mark Lewisohn notes that although many of the characters (long-suffering wife, vicar, neighbour) were sitcom clichés "they seemed less so in the skilled hands of writer Roy Clarke, who had already proved a master of naturally humorous dialogue".

Potter is an occupational surname that originally referred to someone who made pottery. It is occasionally used as a given name. People with the name include: