Definition

1. Noun:
   • A peasant farmer in the Scottish Highlands: A "cottar" refers to a member of a low social class in historical Scotland, typically a tenant farmer or laborer who occupied a cottage and small piece of land, often in exchange for services to a landlord.
   • A fastener consisting of a wedge or pin: In mechanics, a "cottar" (more commonly spelled "cotter") is a pin, wedge, or similar device inserted through a slot or hole to secure parts of a machine or structure together.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Historical/Labourer):
  • The laird's estate was worked by dozens of cottars.
  • Life was hard for a Scottish cottar in the 18th century.
• Noun (Mechanical Fastener):
  • Ensure the cottar is securely in place before operating the machinery.
  • The old bicycle pedal was held on by a cottar pin.

Advanced Usage

• "Cottar class": Refers collectively to this social stratum.
  • The agrarian reforms drastically affected the cottar class.
• Used in historical or technical contexts. The spelling "cotter" is now more common, especially for the mechanical meaning.

Variants and Related Words

• Cotter (noun): The standard modern spelling for both the mechanical fastener and, less commonly, the historical farmer.
• Cottier (noun): A similar term used in historical contexts, particularly in Ireland, for a tenant farmer.
• Cotter pin (noun phrase): A specific type of fastener, a split pin that opens after passing through a hole.

Synonyms

• For the farmer: Tenant farmer, crofter, peasant, bondsman.
• For the fastener: Pin, wedge, linchpin, clevis pin.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• To cotter (verb, rare/technical): To secure with a cotter pin or wedge.
  • The mechanic cottered the joint to prevent slippage.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms are directly based on the word "cottar." Its usage is primarily literal and specific to historical or technical domains.

Noun

1. fastener consisting of a wedge or pin inserted through a slot to hold two other pieces together
2. a peasant farmer in the Scottish Highlands