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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Werefare, Weirfar(e, -fair, n. Also: werfair, werefayre, verefar, veirfare, -fair, wearfare, -fair, warfare, -feir, -fear, varefare. [e.m.E. warfare (1483), warfar (c1514), warre fare (a1533), warrefaire (1553); Wer(e n.¹ and Fare n.] Warfare, the action or fact of engaging in war or fighting; an instance of this, a conflict.(1) 1448 Acts I 350/2.
Statutis … ordanit to be kepit … in tyme of weirfar 1460 Hay Alex. 688.
Knychttis … Quhilkis … desyrit nathing mair Than to be enterit to battell and werefare c1500 Harl. MS 4700 259a.
Weirfair 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 164.
As our buk begouth hys weirfar tell … Thou drery preambill, with a bludy text 1513 Doug. xi i 41.
Attend To armys and to weirfar euery ane c1590 Fowler II 100/18.
The first quha gave reputatioun to this sort of weirfair was Albert erle of Romainye 1600-1610 Melvill 281.
Warfear 1626 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 297.
The inhabitants … ar unfitlie prepared … with exerceis of wearfair for resisting of suchlyik invasioun(2) 1513 Doug. xii iv 51.
Every batale, stryfe, weirfar or debait

b. To pas, be, etc. in werefare, to go to war, to be at war. To be able, accoutterit, etc. in werefare, to be fit, equipped, etc. for war. Misgyding, ordnances in warfeir, experience of werefayre, a state, law, etc. with regard to (the performance of) war.(1) 1456 Hay I 114/26.
Out of his lordis land suld pas nouthir hors na men till othir contree in armes na werefare, but ordinaunce 1533 Boece 202b.
Pichtis … be resoun of the lyig with Scottis come in werefare contrare Romanis 1533 Bell. Livy I 94/16.
Thir ȝoung men war ordanit to be reddy to pas in werefare [B. veirfair] aganis thare inemyis(b) a1538 Abell 41a.
The Gallis entrit in weirfair in Britane and waistit it be swerd and fire 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 45.
Scottis schippis makand furth in weirfair upoun the Spanyertis 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 74.
The said capitane and maister with thair kippage being riggit furth in weirfair upoun inymeis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5339.
Not lang efter come on thir kingis thre, All in weirfair, with prepotent armie 1570 Leslie 82.
Andro Bartone, being on the sey in weirfair contrar the Portingallis(c) 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 17.
King was in Innerness, in warfare agains Donald Neilson of the Iles(2) 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 144.
Johnne … & Archibald Betoune … ar … nocht able for travale in verefar 1529 Reg. Morton I 3.
Weirfare 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV 9.
Schippis accoutterit in weirfair with men and armour c1590 Fowler II 108/6.
A prence not practised in werfair(b) 1545 Douglas Corr. 154.
Ane luste ȝung man, and meit to be exersit in varefare(c) 1622-6 Bisset II 240/1.
Maryneris … nocht equippaged in wearfair(3) 1549 Lamb Resonyng 5/3.
Our awin … misgyding in veirfare c1590 Fowler II 105/37.
Gif … France … had followed King Charles the 7 ordnances in warfeir it had bene invincible — a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 305.
Larde of Wemyis, a gentilman of gude experience of werefayre

c. attrib. 1550 Reg. Privy S. IV 117/2.
Certane prysis takin be him … and weirfar [pr. weirfor] gudis thairintill c1590 Fowler II 137/27.
The whole pepill … can not be employed in this werfair vocation

d. transf.or fig. 1562-3 Winȝet II 17/13.
Sorrouful cummeris of this warldlie weirfair 1588 King Cat. 20.
We being called furthe out of this warlde, as out of ane greuous pilgramage and weirfair 1596 Dalr. I 123/26.
Christe our King, and His maist haly wearfare 1640 Boyd Lett. Comf. 11.
Our life is a warfare, at death we receive the pay