v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Pottered p. pr. & vb. n. Pottering. ] [ Cf. W. pwtio to poke, or OD. poteren to search one thoroughly, Sw. påta, peta, to pick, E. pother, put. ] 1. To busy one's self with trifles; to labor with little purpose, energy, of effect; to trifle; to putter; to pother.
Syn. -- putter; pother. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pottering about the Mile End cottages. Mrs. Humphry Ward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To walk lazily or idly; to saunter. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To poke; to push; also, to disturb; to confuse; to bother. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. potier. ] 1. One whose occupation is to make earthen vessels. Ps. ii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

The potter heard, and stopped his wheel. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who hawks crockery or earthenware. [ Prov. Eng. ] De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who pots meats or other eatables. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The red-bellied terrapin. See Terrapin. [ 1913 Webster ]

Potter's asthma (Med.), emphysema of the lungs; -- so called because very prevalent among potters. Parkers. --
Potter's clay. See under Clay. --
Potter's field, a public burial place, especially in a city, for paupers, unknown persons, and criminals; -- so named from the field south of Jerusalem, mentioned in Matt. xxvii. 7. --
Potter's ore. See Alquifou. --
Potter's wheel, a horizontal revolving disk on which the clay is molded into form with the hands or tools. “My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel.” Shak. --
Potter wasp (Zool.), a small solitary wasp (Eumenes fraternal) which constructs a globular nest of mud and sand in which it deposits insect larvæ, such as cankerworms, as food for its young. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to potters. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pottern ore, a species of ore which, from its aptness to vitrify like the glazing of potter's wares, the miners call by this name. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Potteries [ F. poterie, fr. pot. See Pot. ] 1. The vessels or ware made by potters; earthenware, glazed and baked. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The place where earthen vessels are made. [ 1913 Webster ]