potter

Etymology 1

From Middle English pottere, from late Old English pottere (“potter”), equivalent to pot + -er, influenced by Old French potier (“potter”). More at pot. Displaced Old English crocwyrhta (literally “pot worker”).

noun

1. One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.
   shoemakers, weavers, potters, bronzeworkers who produced and purveyed the articles necessary for daily life. 1961, J. A. Philip, “Mimesis in the Sophistês of Plato,”, in Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, volume 92, page 453
2. One who places flowers or other plants inside their pots.
3. One who pots meats or other eatables.
4. One who hawks crockery or earthenware.
   the convivial society of gipsies, tinkers, potters, strolling players, &c. 1829, Thomas De Quincey, “Professor Wilson”, in Edinburgh Literary Gazette
5. The red-bellied terrapin, Pseudemys rubriventris (species of turtle).
6. The chicken turtle, Deirochelys reticularia.

Etymology 2

Frequentative of pote, equivalent to pote + -er. Cognate with Dutch poteren, peuteren (“to poke, pry, search”).

verb

1. (Britain) To act in a vague or unmotivated way; to fuss about with unimportant things.
2. (Britain) To move slowly or aimlessly. (Often potter about, potter around.)
   He’s so dreamy and absent-minded. He potters about the garden all the time. 1923, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter II, in Leave It to Psmith
3. (obsolete) To poke repeatedly.