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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WARSE, adj., n., adv. Sc. form and usages of Eng. worse (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 118; Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 102; Sc. 1819 Scott Leg. Montrose iv.; Rxb. 1871 H. S. Riddell Poet. Wks. I. 202; Fif. 1895 S. Tytler Kincaid's Widow x.; Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat. Comm. 29; I.Sc., Cai. 1973). The usage is chiefly liter. the reg. Sc. form is Waur, q.v. [wɑrs]Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 42:
" ... Efter this married, of corse, id's a different storry, for as thoo're aware, a man tak's his wife for better or for warse - chenerally id's warse - an' if shae gets fat thir's noathing he kin dae, except maybe gie her a geud skelp noo an' again cheust tae show her he disno approve o' her bein' fat. ... "Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 23:
And this is whit I focht for:
this hoose, this gairden. I'll no cowp owre that
for some daft notion o freedom that's juist
the freedom tae be warse aff.Dundee 2000 Matthew Fitt But n Ben A-Go-Go 136:
He had taen a skelpin aff the sun warse than fae the baist. A guid dose o the pysent licht wis unner his skin. Intil his bluid.

Sc. phr. and deriv.: 1. wars(e)n, to worsen (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; I.Sc., Cai. 1973); 2. warse o, worse for, in phrs. warse o drink, warse o the wear. Now only dial. in Eng. See O, prep., 1. (6) (ii), Of, prep., 4. (1).1. Sh. 1898 Shetland News (17 Sept.):
Wi' a light boat, an' da wadder warsnin'.2. Edb. 1731 W. Mitchel Wonderful Sermon 40:
When I married her, I was the worse of Drink.Sc. 1810 Scots Mag. (March) 234:
He was a little worse of drink, but not so bad as the deceased, who was very drunk.Bnff. 1856 J. Collie Poems 54:
A sma' thing the warse o' the wear.Fif. 1866 St Andrews Gaz. (3 March):
I make no doubt I was a little hearty, and might have been a little touched, but did not consider myself the worse of drink.