The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fother \Foth"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fothered; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Fothering.] [Cf. Fodder food, and G. f["u]ttern,
   futtern, to cover within or without, to line. [root]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.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fother \Foth"er\, n. [OE. fother, foder, AS. f[=o]?er a
   cartload; akin to G. fuder a cartload, a unit of measure,
   OHG. fuodar, D. voeder, and perh. to E. fathom, or cf. Skr.
   p[=a]tr[=a] vessel, dish. Cf. Fodder a fother.]
   1. A wagonload; a load of any sort. [Obs.]
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            Of dung full many a fother.           --Chaucer.
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   2. See Fodder, a unit of weight.
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