A cottager; a cottier.

tenant on a manor having a cottage ("cot")

Tenant of a cottage, usually holding little or no land.

A piece of wood or metal, commonly wedge-shaped, used for fastening together parts of a machine or structure. It is driven into an opening through one or all of the parts. [See Illust.] In the United States a cotter is commonly called a key.

To fasten with a cotter.

fastener consisting of a wedge or pin inserted through a slot to hold two other pieces together

A toggle.

a medieval English villein

See also Canadian band The Cottars.

Cotter is a family surname which may -among other countries and regions- be found in Ireland.