1. To be unsteady in purpose or action, as from a loss of courage or confidence; to waver: Jones was weak from hunger and his footsteps were faltering as he walked home.
2. To speak hesitatingly; to stammer; unsteadiness in speech or action: Lou's voice seemed to falter while she was speaking emotionally about her father.
3. To lose strength, power, or vitality; to move teeteringly: The effect of the woman's long illness caused her strength to falter after just a little bit of exercise.
4. To show a loss of confidence; especially, to speak or to act with hesitation: The audience could tell that the speaker was very nervous because his voice was faltering from time to time.
5. Etymology: of unknown origin, possibly from a Scandinavian source of Old Norse faltrask, "to be burdened, to hesitate, to be troubled, to fail", or of Middle English falden, "to fold" and said to be influenced by the fault element.