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.

Wyndil(l) stray, Windil stra(y, n. Also: windle straw, -stray, -strae, uindlestre, winnel stroe, windling stray. [17th c. Eng. windle-strawe, OE windelstréaw.] A withered stalk of grass, chiefly with reference to something trifling or of no value. Also proverb. 15.. Lord Fergus' Gaist 58.
With ten partane tais And nyne knokis of windil strais With thre heidis of curle doddy And bid the gaist turn in a boddy 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 134.
With hirstis harsk of waggand wyndill strays [Ruddim. wyndil strayis] a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 303 (Wr.).
I staggered at the windling strayes [W. windilstrayis, L. windil strayis] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 129/142.
The earth … dois … barren haruestis produce us … & for the corne that ue do sou deceitfull doth us paye … uith … guylefull hope of uindlstre [v.r. windle-stray] that is but ane emptie slouche 1636 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 142.
Let us be faithful to Him that can ride through hell and death upon a windlestrae, and His horse never stumble 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 375.
Other things worthy in themselves, in respect of Christ, are not worth a windlestraw, or a drink of cold water 1662 Crim. Trials III 608.
[Quhan] we wold ryd, we tak windle-strawes or been-stakes and put them betwixt owr foot and say thryse ‘[Horse] and hattok, horse and goe [etc.]’ 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1694) 6.
As sure as the Bible was the word of God, we should gain the day, for that the windle-straws should fight for usproverb. a1568 Bann. MS 144a/27.
Ȝit I wald draw ȝow doun he sayis Wer nocht for fyling of ȝour clayis Quhat rek quod scho I am weill cled Ȝe ar our red for windil strayis That dar nocht spill the lairdis bed a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 328.
He that is redd for windlestrawes [MS winnel stroes], should not sleep in lees