Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Wra, n. Also: wraw(e, (wraa), wray, wrey. [ME wra (Cursor M.), wro (Havelok), wraa (a1400-50), ON rá, r, MSw. vra(a.] A nook, corner; an out of the way place or ? a corner-shaped area of land. Also fig. b. ? A place of refuge. c. ? A bay or inlet. 1455 Exch. R. VI 90.
Terre de le Wra 1456 Exch. R. VI 211.
Terrarum de Esterquhitewraa 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 8 (see Land n.¹ 5 c (1)).
Wra-endis 1240 Lindores Chart. 79.
Et ligna que dicuntur wrawes de bule et de auhne 1460 Hay Alex. 84.
Ane serpent … Quhilk … oureȝeid all baith hirn nuke and wra 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 158.
Set thou to Wlcane haue ful gret resembling … Or sum blynd Ciclopes of thy laithly wra [: Ethna]fig. a1400 Leg. S. xliii 495.
I … giffis bot a lytil wra, A vyd merkat thare-for I tab. a1568 Bann. MS 217a/12.
Than is thair non to confort me Quhen I am standand in that stage … Thair is nocht wrey in wardlie wregec. 1594 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 217.
That the saidis persones … sall nawayes slay small fische within the soundis and wrayis thairof