totter
UK: ˈtɒtə | US: ˈtɑːtər
vi. to move unsteadily, as if about to fall
vi. to shake or sway as if about to collapse
n. an unsteady or shaky movement
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"Totter" originates from Middle English toteren, likely of Scandinavian influence (compare Old Norse tötra, meaning "to tremble"). The word evokes the imagery of instability, mimicking the sound or motion of something wavering or teetering. Its monosyllabic form and abrupt consonants (t-t-r) phonetically mirror the jerky movement it describes.
The old man tottered across the icy sidewalk.
The tower tottered dangerously in the strong wind.
She tottered on her high heels after too much champagne.
The toddler tottered a few steps before falling into his mother’s arms.
The economy tottered on the brink of collapse during the crisis.