おそらく古ノルド語のtitra, to sway, to rockに由来し、最終語源はtotter, toddleと同じかもしれない。
英語の語源
teeter (v.)
1843, "to seesaw," alteration of Middle English titter "move unsteadily," probably from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse titra "to shake, shiver, totter, tremble," from Proto-Germanic *ti-tra- (cognates: German zittern "to tremble"). Meaning "move unsteadily, be on the edge of imbalance" is from 1844. Noun teeter-totter "see-saw" is attested from 1905 (earlier simply teeter, 1855, and titter-totter in same sense is from 1520s). Totter (n.) "board swing" is recorded from late 14c.; see totter (v.).
例文
1. Hyde shifted his weight and felt himself teeter forward，beginning to overbalance.
ハイドは重心を移すと、自分が前に傾いてバランスを失い始めたことを感じた。
2.He watched the cup teeter on the edge before it fell.
彼はカップがそばで揺れるのを見て落ちた。
3. Teeter -totter caught up bein a father and a prima donna.
お父さんとお金を稼いで家に帰ってどこを気にしたらいいかわからない。
4.Seagulls teeter on the parapet in front of her,boats go by.
カモメが目の前の擁壁の上をよろよろ歩いていると、船が彼女のそばを通り過ぎて行った。
5.France,Ireland,and Denmark are in recession.Others teeter on the edge.