Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Falter \Fal"ter\, v. t.
   To utter with hesitation, or in a broken, trembling, or weak
   manner.

         And here he faltered forth his last farewell. --Byron.

         Mde me most happy, faltering ``I am thine.''
                                                  --Tennyson.

Falter \Fal"ter\, n. [See {Falter}, v. i.]
   Hesitation; trembling; feebleness; an uncertain or broken
   sound; as, a slight falter in her voice.

         The falter of an idle shepherd's pipe.   --Lowell.

Falter \Fal"ter\, v. t.
   To thrash in the chaff; also, to cleanse or sift, as barley.
   [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.

Falter \Fal"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Faltered}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Faltering}.] [OE. falteren, faltren, prob. from fault.
   See {Fault}, v. & n.]
   1. To hesitate; to speak brokenly or weakly; to stammer; as,
      his tongue falters.

            With faltering speech and visage incomposed.
                                                  --Milton.

   2. To tremble; to totter; to be unsteady. ``He found his legs
      falter.'' --Wiseman.

   3. To hesitate in purpose or action.

            Ere her native king Shall falter under foul
            rebellion's arms.                     --Shak.

   4. To fail in distinctness or regularity of exercise; -- said
      of the mind or of thought.

            Here indeed the power of disinct conception of space
            and distance falters.                 --I. Taylor.

Source : WordNet®

falter
     n : the act of pausing uncertainly; "there was a hesitation in
         his speech" [syn: {hesitation}, {waver}, {faltering}]
     v 1: be unsure or weak; "Their enthusiasm is faltering" [syn: {waver}]
     2: move hesitatingly, as if about to give way [syn: {waver}]
     3: walk unsteadily; "The drunk man stumbled about" [syn: {stumble},
         {bumble}]
     4: speak haltingly; "The speaker faltered when he saw his
        opponent enter the room" [syn: {bumble}, {stutter}, {stammer}]