druther
English
Etymology
A corruption of I'd rather or 'd rather.
Noun
druther (plural druthers)
- (rare) singular of druthers
- 2004, Sherry H. Penney, James D. Livingston, A Very Dangerous Woman: Martha Wright and Women's Rights,
- The teacher told Martha that she had invited a neighboring planter to send his children to her school, but "he said 'Me & my wife had no eddication, nor any of my gals, but I would rather they never would have any, than go to school with niggers.' So he had his druther!"48
- 2004, Sherry H. Penney, James D. Livingston, A Very Dangerous Woman: Martha Wright and Women's Rights,
Usage notes
- The plural form druthers (which see also) is much more common.
Verb
druther (no infinitive, tenses, or participles)
- (US, informal, often jocular) Would rather; would prefer to.
- I'd druther stay home today.
- We druther go swimming than go to school.
- 1884, Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn:
- The old gentleman was for going along with me, but I said no, I could drive the horse myself, and I druther he wouldn't take no trouble about me.
- 1903, Jack London, The Call of the Wild:
- "He's no slouch at dog-breakin', that's wot I say," one of the men on the wall cried enthusiastically.
- "Druther break cayuses any day, and twice on Sundays," was the reply of the driver, as he climbed on the wagon and started the horses.
Related terms
- druthers
Anagrams
- Redruth