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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.

Widder, Wyd(d)er, Wither, v. Also: wether. P.t. also widderrit. [Late ME and e.m.E. widre (c1400), widder (c1460), weder (1508), wyther (1535), wither (1573-80).] intr.

1. To dry up and perish for lack of moisture. a. Of persons. b. Of plants. c. fig.Quot. Garden may also belong in a.a. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5472.
It [sc. the sea] sall … Syne sattell doun agane so law That no man sall the walter knaw … That men sall wydder on the erd(b) c1590 Fowler I 298/93.
Man … wethereth lyk the grasp.t. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 255 (W).
Now na bluid in me remaines Vnbrunt … With deadlie visage, paill and wan Mair like ane attomie nor man, I widderit [L. widderrit, Wr. withered] cleine awayb. c1568 Lauder Minor P. Title-page.
He is cassin furth, as ane branche that widderis 1570 Sat. P. xv 22.
Ȝe fair rois treis, widder 1609 Garden Garden 44.
For man, beast, fish and foule, Plant, metall, stones, and trees, Once widders, wracks, once rots or rusts, Decayes, departs, or diesc. 1571 Sempill in Sat. P. xxviii 6.
I se na plesure permanabill, Bot as the weid it widderis sone away

2. To become dry or withered. Cf. Widder(i)t ppl. adj. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 894.
Twa lafis … The quhilk that I with me bare … That wyderit war eftyr sa faste, Thane thay war lykare to be Stanys than bred