Dictionary

elt en · VERB · etymology 1

Etymology

From Middle English elten (“to mold, knead, work”), from Old Norse elta (“to chase, hunt, knead”), from Proto-Germanic *alatjaną (“to drive, force, move”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁elh₂- (“to drive, move, go”). Cognate with Danish ælte (“to knead”), Swedish älta (“to dwell upon, brood, stir, knead”), Norwegian elte (“to knead”), Norwegian elta (“to pursue, plod”), Icelandic elta (“to chase”).

Meanings

1. (Northern-England, Scotland, UK, dialectal, transitive) To injure (anything) by rough handling; handle roughly.
   • Du's eltin dat creature to death, boy!?
2. (Northern-England, Scotland, UK, dialectal, transitive) To begrime; soil with mud; daub; smear.
   • Mi böts ir a' eltit wi' glaar.
   • Whin shü cam oot an fann me dere Wi peenie fairlins eltit.
   • He was elt(er)ed wi' gutters fae head to foot.
3. (Northern-England, Scotland, UK, dialectal, transitive) To work persistently or laboriously; be occupied in working (e.g. in the earth, rake among dirt, etc.).
4. (Northern-England, Scotland, UK, dialectal, transitive) To meddle; interfere.
5. (Northern-England, Scotland, UK, dialectal, transitive) To knead dough; stir dough previously kneaded to a proper consistency before baking.
6. (Northern-England, Scotland, UK, dialectal, intransitive) To become soft; become moist, as damp earth.

Forms

Synonyms

besmear · soss · foil · file · bedirty · soil · besmirch · smear · sullow · elt · inquinate · beray · clat · sling mud · foul · begrime · blacken · slotter · imbrue (especially with blood) · dirten · gunk · smut · dirty · tarnish · smudge · stain · bedizen · befile · defile · bedaub · sowl · beclart · slur · assoil · sully · contaminate · befilth · besully · spot · befoul · smirch · darken · stain · blot · soil · blur · befoul · beshit · scunge · uggle · bewray · smutch · gunk up

elt en · NOUN · etymology 2

Etymology

Shortening.

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of) Abbreviation of element.
   alt of element

Forms