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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.

WARST, adj., n., adv., v. Also waurst (s.Sc. 1847 H. S. Riddell Poems 87; Kcb. 1896 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet iv.); in ballad use warstan (ne.Sc. 1828 Mother's Malison in Child Ballads (1956) IV. 190). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. worst (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 65; Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 47; Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 205; Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxiv., Rxb. 1868 D. Anderson Musings 9; Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums ix.; Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv.: Lnk. 1923 G. Rae Lowland Hills 39). Gen.Sc.

Sc. form of Eng. worst.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 31:
" ... The warst is, a'm an ould man, an' if Henrietta goes awey wi' thee tae Austrellia whar's gaun tae luk efter me?"Ags. 2000 Maurice Fleming The Sidlaws 118:
A Blairgowrie man breathed a sigh of relief when the train reached Lochee. 'I think I'm by the warst noo,' he said to a fellow-passenger.
'Why - where are you going?' asked the passenger.
'Cape Town!'ne.Sc. 2004 Press and Journal 19 Jul 14:
"The warst thing ye can dee," says the heavy-events judge, Peter Fraser, eest tae the hills as a gamie aa's life "is scratch. Jist leave them abe."

Sc. combs: 1. warstfaured, ugliest. See Faur; 2. warst maid, the second of the two female attendants upon a bride; 3. warst (young) man, the second of the two male attendants of a bridegroom; 4. the worst one, the Devil.1. Slk. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake 74:
For the warst-faurd wife on the shoris of Fyfe Is cumlye comparet wi thee.2. Ags. 1921 D. H. Edwards Fisher Folks 221:
The bride and bridegroom choose a best man and a best maid, and also a warst man and warst maid.3. Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxix.:
It being left to him and the red-haired orra man to settle who should be “best” and who “warst” young man.4. Arg. 1898 N. Munro John Splendid xi.:
They might carry the gates of hell against the Worst One and all his clan.