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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.

(Wirrying,) Wirre(y)ing, Wyrrying, vbl. n. Also: wirrieing, wirring, wyrreing(e, wereing, worrying, worriing. [e.m.E. werying (Cath. Angl.), worrien (1621).] The action of a. Killing by strangulation. (Wirry v. 1.) The first quot. may belong in b. b. Attacking, savaging or causing to attack. (Wirry v. 2.)a. 1510 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 58.
The wereing of ane … yow and lambe with his handis 1545–6 Reg. Privy S. III 234/2.
Robert Gray … convict for the creawle slauchter, murdressing and wirreyng of [gap in MS] Fostar 1570 Sempill in Sat. P. xii 67.
Hepburnis will wraik for wyrrying of the King 1578 Reg. Privy S. VII 240/1.
[The goods of John Smyth … fallen to the crown] throw strangling and wyrreing of the said Johnne himself quhairthrowch he deit 1616 Edgar Hist. Dumfries App. 110.
Of his wirreing and murdering the young boyb. 1581–2 Crail B. Ct. 23 Jan.
In the actioun … mouit … for the skayth sustenit … in the said Andro default throw the wyrreing of certane geis … the juges … referris the persewaris clame … to his probatioun to wit that the said Androis dowgis befoir the wyrreinge of his geis wyrreit vtheris fowllis 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 402.
His … ryding throw the same cornis, and wirring a certane nomber of his scheip with his doggis 1623 Aberd. B. Rec. II 383.
Wirrieing 1665 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 128.
Worr[y]ing 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 302.
The said James daylie opresses your suplicants by crewall hunding and worriing of our geir about all our marches … and especiallie hes worried and killed ane lamb out of hand