fother, n. [OE. fother, foder, AS. fōer a cartload; akin to G. fuder a cartload, a unit of measure, OHG. fuodar, D. voeder, and perh. to E. fathom, or cf. Skr. pātrā vessel, dish. Cf. Fodder a fother.].
fother, v. t. [Cf. Fodder food, and G. fÜttern, futtern, to cover within or without, to line. √75.].
To stop (a leak in a ship at sea) by drawing under its bottom a thrummed sail, so that the pressure of the water may force it into the crack. Totten. [1913 Webster]