falter2 (falter)

t. [E. dial.; origin uncertain.] To thresh in the chaff; cleanse or sift out, as barley. Hall i well. falteringly (fal'ter-ing-li), adv. In a faltering manner; with hesitation; with a trembling, broken voice; with difficulty or feeblene . Then Philip standing up said falteringly , "Annie, I came to ask a favour of you. Tennyson, Enoch Arden.