Search
Select the dictionary language
Tarter
01
a person who is ill-tempered, sharp-tongued, or harsh
Disapproving
Informal
Grammatical Information
animacy status
human
Composition
Compound
countable
plural form
tarters
What is the origin of the term "tarter" and how is it used?
"Tarter" is a slang term used to describe a person who is ill-tempered, sharp-tongued, or harsh. It likely comes from the word "tart," historically used to describe something sharp, acidic, or biting, with the suffix "-er" turning it into a label for a person exhibiting those qualities. The term has been in English since at least the 18th–19th century and appears in informal, social, or literary contexts to criticize someone's temperament or speech. It is mildly derogatory and critical but generally not deeply offensive.
Examples
She 's a real tarter when she's tired.
