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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wanto(u)nes, n. Also: wantonase, wantonnes, -tonness, wanttones, vanton(e)s, wantown(n)es, -as, vantownes. [ME and e.m.E. wanntonnes (c1340), wantounesse (1362), wantownesse (Chaucer), wantonnesse (a1400), vantonnesse (c1518), wantones (1533).]

1. Undisciplined or unruly behaviour, esp. immoral behaviour. a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 8.
The vicis of ydilnes, Gret foly … & vantones c1420 Wynt. iii 348.
Quhen that he sawe thare that he wes Sa thraly throuch hyr wantownes Infesteyde c1460 Thewis Wysmen 356.
One mornys thai luf weill to slep … Thar study and thar besynes Is al in plays and wantownnes c1460 Thewis Gud Women 231.
Quhen thai haf nan instruccyoune … Bot lattis thaim flow in wantonnes And fauoris thaim in thar wykytnes c1460 Thewis Gud Women 112.
Wantonnes a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 150.
Wantownas a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 319.
I change thy mirth into melancholy … Thyne insolence, thy play and wantones, To greit diseis 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 182.
For wantones, sum braik thare neckis 1551 Hamilton Cat. 48.
Thai be desperacion gaif thame self to wantones in doing of uncleinnes and covatousnes 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 219.
Peter in his wantones fell down in the bed abov the clathis 1582–3 St. A. Kirk S. 495.
To lett na person enter in the presson hous to the pressonaris, to beir cumpanie with thame in extraordinar drinking and wantownes c1590 Fowler II 115/12.
That prence chiftane that goeth with his armye entertenying and vpholding the same … by spoyling and sackings, butings and vantons 1622-6 Bisset II 194/14.
King Malcolme … regnned … in continewall chestitie nocht in wanttones and chalmering 1632 Perth Kirk S. in Lawson Bk. Perth 310.
Janet Gibson, a servant lass … is accused of indecent wantonness 1663 S. Ronaldshay 44.
[Playing at] football or other prophane game, or wantonness

2. Unrestrained merriment, light-heartedness, frivolity. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 428.
Abstinence, nocht ane Of met & drink that he had tan, Na of clething, but als of play & wantones a1500 Prestis of Peblis 984.
He askit forgiuenes For his licht laytes and his wantones c1490 Irland Asl. MS 3/22.
Ȝoung folk in thair strenth ȝouthhed & wantones

3. Luxuriousness; extravagance; excess. c1420 Wynt. iv 1961.
The soyth gywe yhe will say, Welth and ryches wownt wes ay In wantones mare will to drawe Than havyng fayr in mesure hawe a1500 Bernardus 172.
Off clethyng now this clerk wyl spek a spase. Costly clething he [pr. se] sais is wantonase 1490 Irland Mir. II 142/36.
It is the waurldly pleasaunce of honour riches wantounes of carnale plesaunce c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 190/5.
All weilfair, welth and wantones [M. vantownes] Ar chengit in to wretchitnes 1535 Stewart 35726.
Tha war so euill teichit in thair ȝouth, Haiffand weilfair and wantones … But disciplyne with sic vndantonit rage, Quhilk causit thame haif powertie in age a1568 Scott xxi 12.
Quhen scho had welth and wantounes, I had bot dollour and distres

4. Pride, haughtiness; insolence, arrogance. 1460 Hay Alex. 17948.
Commounly before ane grete myschance Thare cummys ane blythnes with ane arrogance And tharewith cummys a welthful wantones withall a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 548.
Thy lufe, thy lawtie [etc.] … I countit small in my prosperitie, Sa efflated I was in wantones c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 19/108.
In word, in will, in wantones expremyng, Prising my self, and evill my nychtburis demyng 1588 King Cat. 23a.
O God, mak me lauly without feignednes, mirrie without lightnes, grave without doildenes, abill without vantones, trew without doublenes

5. personified. As the proper name of an allegorical character or an entertainer exhibiting characteristics of the above senses. a1500 K. Hart 449.
Wantownnes he went vnto the king And tald him all the cais quhow that it stude 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 369.
That nycht, to Wantonnes that sang to the king, xiiij s. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 175.
Unto the pres persewit Hie Degree; Hir folowit ay Estate and Dignitee … Will, Wantonnes, Renoun and Libertee [etc.] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 495.
God forbid, Wantonnes, that I gif thé leife