Waistrel, C, an unthrift, a useless fellow.
The late Sergeant Wilkins, in reply to the Court, once defined
_waistrel_, not very accurately, as “something spoiled in the
manufacture, and sold at half price in the Lowther Arcade.”
Wale, S, choose, choice.
“For sake o’ gear
Ane _wales_ a wife as he wad buy a mear.”
_Ramsay._ The Gentle Shepherd.
“The king o’ gude fellows an’ _wale_ o’ auld men.”
Song—Auld Rob Morris.
Wankle, C, weakly, flaccid.
“As _wankle_ as a wet seck.”—Common saying.
Wanter, C, one wanting a wife or husband.
“He leeves aw his leane, but he’s seerly to bleame,
When a _wanter_ like me’s to be hed sa near heame.”
_Anderson._ Auld Robbie Miller.
Wanwauchtie, S, unable to drink freely (wan, un, and waucht a hearty
draught.)
“He’s unco _wanwauchtie_ that scunners at whey.”—Proverb.
War-day, C, work-day—so distinguished from the day of rest.
“She cheerfu’ wrowte her _warday_ wark,
Than sat down at her wheel.”
_Rayson._ Ann o’ Hethersgill.
Ware, S and C, spend.
“Jockey and Jenny they went to the fair,
Jockey gave Jenny a penny to _ware_.”
Children’s Rhyme.
Wat, S, know.
“She’s a wise wife that _wats_ her ain weird.”—Proverb.
Waukrife, S, wakeful, or preventing sleep.
“Fleas and a girnin’ wife are _waukrife_ bedfellows.”
Proverb.
Weird, S, fate, destiny.
“After word comes _weird_, fair fa’ they that ca’ me madam.”
Proverb.
Welch, C, saltless, insipid.
“What foats may poddish hev? They may be sooar, seùty, sodden, an’
savvorless, soat, _welsh_, brocken, an’ lumpy!”
Common Saying.
Whang, C and S, a strip of leather, a piece cut off anything.
“The mergh o’ his shin bane has run down on his spur leather _whang_.”
The Fray of Suport.
“Wi’ sweet milk cheese i’ monie a _whang_.”
_Burns._ The Holy Fair.
Whick, C, alive, quick.
“Sec fashions I’ll not follow while I’s _whick_,
Lang as plain grogram and thur locks please Dick.”
_Ewan Clark._ The Faithful Pair.
Whiles, S, sometimes.
“Wha does the utmost that he can
May _whiles_ do mair.”
_Burns._ Ep. to Dr. Blacklock.
Whins, C; Whuns, S, furze, gorse.
“When t’ _whins_ is oot o’ blossom kissing’s oot o’ fashion.”
Proverb.
Whunstane, S, a kind of hard dark stone.
“Wha’s ragin’ flame an’ scorchin’ heat
Wad melt the hardest _whun-stane_.”
_Burns._ The Holy Fair.
Whuddering, S and C, shuddering or tremulous in sound.
“_Whudder_ awa’ thou bitter, biting blast.”
_Mactaggart._ Mary Lee’s Lament.
Widderful, C, looking withered or unthriven.
“That barne leuks as _widderful_ as if it was its oan
gran’-fadder.”—Said of an unhealthy child.
Wimple, S, to curl and wheel as running water.
“But I’ll big a bower on yon green bank sae bonnie,
That’s laved by the waters o’ Tay _wimplin’_ clear.”
Song—Bonnie Dundee.
Win, S, to make way, to get to.
“Ye maunna think to _win_ through the world on a feather bed.”—Proverb.
Winnock, S, diminutive of window.
“At yon farmer’s _winnock_, nichtly,
Still he taks his eerie stan’.”
_John Johnstone._ Bodkin Ben.
Winsome, S, winning, attractive.
“She is a _winsome_ wee thing,
That sweet wee wife o’ mine.”
_Burns._ Song.
Wizzent, C, withered, shrunk.
“He keeps a lad’s heart in his _wizzent_ āld skin.”
_Stanyan Bigg._ Granfadder Jones.
Won, S, to exist, to dwell.
“Kissing has _wonn’d_ i’ the world
Sin ever there were twa.”
Old Song.
Worchet, C, orchard.
“Our meadow sud be a girt _worchet_,
An’ growe nowte at o’ but big plums.”
_Anderson._ King Roger.
Wrowke, C, to disturb roughly, or stir up.
“I ola’s liked John, but I cared sa lāl for Grace ’at I cūd ha’ teàn
her an’ _wrowk’t_ t’ fire wid her.”
A Cumberland lady, about her children.
Wudde, S, mad.
“I’ve ridden a horse baith wild an’ _wudde_.”
Ballad—Kinmont Willie.
Wummel, C, to enter in a sinuous manner, as an auger bores.
“He’ll _wummel_ his-sel’ intil t’ creuktest rabbit whoal i’
Siddick.”—Said of a terrier.