speaks with involuntary repetition or prolongation of sounds, or operates with jerky, uneven motions.
From Middle Low German 'stottern.' The exact origin is unclear but may relate to the idea of stumbling over words. The mechanical sense (engine stutters) is metaphorical from the speech impediment.
Famous people like King George VI and Bruce Willis have opened conversations about stuttering, revealing that it often correlates with high intelligence and is more about processing speed than actual language ability—it's a timing issue, not a thinking issue.
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