- stutter (v.)
- 1560s, frequentative form of stutt, from Middle English stutten "to stutter, stammer" (late 14c.), cognate with Middle Low German stoten "to knock, strike against, collide," from Proto-Germanic *staut- "push, thrust" (cf. Old English stotan, Old High German stozan, Gothic stautan "to push, thrust"), from PIE *(s)teu- (see steep (adj.)). The noun is attested from 1854.