Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LINSEY-WINSEY, n.comb. Also -ie, -wo(o)nsey; lincy wencing (Abd. 1817 J. Christie Instructions 171), linen winsey (Jam.², s.v. winsey). Sc. forms of Eng. linsey-woolsey, a kind of cloth made from coarse wool and linen or cotton (Abd., Slg., Rxb., Uls. 1961). See Wincey.Sc. 1782 Convivial Songster 283:
My gown was linsie-winsie, And never a sark at a.Ags. 1799 J. M. Beatts Hist. Dundee (1878) 110:
A linsey winsey clad the middling people.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems II. 63:
Mony a linsey-wonsey clout, On Cassiopeia's chair.Edb. 1882 J. Smith Humorous Stories 14:
Yer linsey-woonsey goun wi' the bonnie braw buss.