a. Obs. or dial. Also 3 hatterne. [OE. ǽtren, ættren, ættern, f. átor: see ATTER sb. and -EN1.] Venomous, poisonous; malignant.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xii. 34. Cynn æterna, hu maʓa ʓe godo spreca?
c. 1205. Lay., 16084. He þurh atterne [1250 hatterne] drench dæð scal iþolien.
1868. Halliwell, Dict., Attern, fierce, cruel, snarling. Gloucester.
