powter

noun

1. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of pouter (a kind of pigeon)

   “I shall confine my remarks to the flyers, and say nothing about the toy birds, which include powters, nuns, tumblers, jacobins, and many other species, which by their respective fanciers are held in as high estimation as the best carriers.”

   “Powters have deservedly a bad character as nurses, and it is usual to put the eggs of valuable birds under other Pigeons to hatch and rear;”

verb

1. To poke in an exploratory manner.

   “I dare say, Mr Wauverley, ye never kend that a' the eggs that were sae weel roasted at supper in the Ha'-house were aye turned by our Davie; — there's no the like o' him ony gate for powtering wi' his fingers amang the het peat-ashes, and roasting eggs.”

   “Having worked and powtered away for a minute or two, the operator suddenly dropped the outlandish instrument, and uplifting his two hands, like the minister when pronouncing the dismissal, he exclaimed, " My stars and garters, what a mighty development!”

   “So we got nowhere in particular ; but learnt a good deal, having ' powtered up and down a bit and had a rattling day.'”

   “He had seen pigs like Christy powtering in the slops, all grunt and hair.”