General
oxters
What does oxters mean?
Scots (and Ulster, and Northern English) for armpits. Old word, Germanic roots, still in everyday use across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Often heard in 'up to my oxters in it' — meaning neck-deep, drowning, overwhelmed. Far better than saying 'armpits'.
"I'm up to my oxters in paperwork this week."
Origin
Old English 'oxta', from Proto-Germanic; cognate with similar forms in other Germanic languages.
Frequently asked questions
What does oxters mean?
It's a Scots and Northern English word for armpits.
How do you use oxters in a sentence?
"He was soaked up to his oxters."
Where does oxters come from?
It's a long-standing Scots and Northern English dialect word for the armpit.
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