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.

Warwolf, Werwolf, n. Also: war-, wer(e)-, woir- and -wolf(f, -woulf, -woolf(f)(e, -woof, -wooph, -woif. Pl. also -wolves. [ME and e.m.E. werwlf (c1212), werwolf (c1350), werwolf (c1400), warwolfe (1483), OE werewulf, MDu. weerwolf.] A werewolf. Also attrib.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 889.
The warwolff [Ch., H., Bann. warwolf] and the pegase perillous, Transformit be assent of sorcerie a1605 Montg. Flyt. 360 (H).
With warwoolffs [T. wolfis] and wild cates thy weird be to wander a1585 Polwart Flyt. 601 (H).
Ane warloche, ane warwoolffe [T. woirwolf], ane volbet but hair 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 42/27.
Are not our war-woolfes one sorte of these spirites … that hauntes and troubles some … dwelling places? 1660 Berw. Nat. C. V 335.
Michell Usher, … at Sproustoun, and Mausie Ker, his wife, complean of John Brown, weaver … for calling him a warwoof, and her a witch 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 83.
Tales … of the same very stuffe with our oune … only instead of our red dracons and giants they have lougarous or warwoophs(b) a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 251.
Wod werwoif [M. werwolf], worme and scorpion vennemous 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1933) 75.
Were-wolves and witches true bodies are … wounded at home, when the astrial assumed bodies are stricken elsewhereattrib. c1500 Rowll Cursing 212 (M).
The discripsioun of thir forsaid dewillis Thay haue lang talis on thair heilis … And dragoun heidis and warwoulf nalis