Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Widder(i)t, Wydderit, -yt, ppl. adj. Also: wid(d)ered, uidderit, widrit, viddrit, vidthrid, woodered, uodderit, with(e)rit, withered, wethrit, wethered. [ME and e.m.E. wyddered (14th c.), wedred (1508), withered (1513), widdred (1526).]

1. Of plants, trees, etc.: Dried up, dead from lack of moisture. Also ellipt., fig. and proverb.b. transf.Of land: Barren. Also fig.c. specif.Of timber: No longer green, dried out, seasoned.attrib. a1500 Henr. Fab. 222.
Thir wydderit peis and nuttis … Wil brek my teith a1500 Henr. Fab. 2362.
It will not wyn ȝow worth ane widderit neip a1500 Colk. Sow Prol. 32.
At his ending he Frome on fair ymp fell doun a widderit tre 1513 Doug. xii ix 52.
Dry wydderit wod 1567 G. Ball. 95.
Lyke the widderit hay sune sall they faid c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 98.
Lyke ane branche doun cuttit of ane stok, That is becum ane drye and widderit blok 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 221/182.
Quhen that leaues uith ratling fallis in bankis of uidderit beuisproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1081.
Litle sap in widered peiss huils(b) a1570-86 Maitl. F. 288/22.
He that with fair wordis is fed Dois hoipe for fructe of witherit plantis(c) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 53/176.
Ane drie & uodderit straellipt. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 185.
When God takis away the greine tries, lat the widdered bewarfig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 444.
The Lord will … make this withered kirk to bud again like a rosepredic. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 152.
Auld rottin runtis quhairen na sap was leifit Moch, all waist, widderit, with granis moutit c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxi 19.
The fig tre was driet vp (or widderit) 1535 Stewart 24513.
Herbis … Widrit and dry(b) a1605 Montg. Sonn. v 4.
My garland grene is withrit with the windb. 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 63.
The grond stud barrant, widderit, dosk or gray, Herbis, flowris and gersis wallowyt away 1549 Compl. 70/16.
The vidthrid barran feildis, quhilkis in vthir tymis hed bene fertilfig. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 166.
Our Lord … shall water with His dew the withered hill of Mount Zion in Scotlandc. c1475 Wall. viii 1037.
Thar awld bulwerk … off wydderyt ayk; War it in fyr, thai mycht nocht stand a straik c1575 Balfour Pract. 583.
Challenge of saidleris … that thay mak the sadillis of grene treis, quhair thay sould be of widderit and dry timber 1594 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 74b.
Thre widderit firs that the said Finlay cuttit

2. Of a person's body, limbs, etc.: Lacking moisture, shrivelled; wasted. Also transf.attrib. a1561 Norvell Meroure 10a.
Death … Where is thy aufull dart and widdert corce? a1585 Polwart Flyt. 674 (T).
Vyle villane … Thy widderit [H. withered] vane is dammischit, deid & dryit c1590 J. Stewart 52/152.
Viddrit(b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 10.
The mann with the wethrit hand 1618 Melrose P. 319.
No thing of it [sc. a hand] resting bot the olde bones and wethered sinewestransf. 1587-99 Hume 45/144.
He can … Restore the health prolong the dayes, renew the widdered agepredic. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 232.
All fleschelie paramour … Is sum tyme sweit, sum tyme bitter and sour … Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago a1585 Maitl. Q. 202/49.
Hir bodye small wes widderit and berent As is the staik quhilk someris drouth opprest a1585 Polwart Flyt. 825 (T).
Vyld, widderit [H. woodered]

3. Of clothes: Worn, faded. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 165.
His [sc. Saturn's] widderit weid fra him the wind out woir