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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.

Wer(e, Weir(e, v.3 Also: ver, uer, weyre, veir, veyr, war, wair, wayr, wear(e, weair(e, vear. P.t. werit, -yt, werd, weer'd, weirit, wore, woir, voir, woare, wour(e, woor(e, weir, war(e, wair, wire, wure. P.p. weryd, worn(e, vorne, woirn, wornit. [ME and e.m.E. werie(n (Ancr. R.), were(n (1377), weyr (1486), weare (1523-34), wayre (1535), wear (1579-80), p.t. also wered (Cursor M.), were (14th c.), werd (c1450), ware (1526), wore (1588), woare (1590), p.p. also werede (Chaucer), worn (c1449), worne (c1520), OE węrian, ON verja.]

1. To wear, be dressed in, to carry on one's person (clothes, accessories, a particular colour, etc.). Also absol. Also fig., in fig. context and proverb.pres. 1375 Barb. xvi 489.
That Rychmound commounly Wes wount that furryt hat to wer [C. were]
a1400 Leg. S. vii 58.
Claths of sylk he wald nocht were Bot lenyne clath he oysit ay
c1420 Wynt. ii 429.
Ryngys fyrst he gert men were [W. weire]
c1420 Wynt. viii 2041.
Quhat caus has thow to were the grene?
a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlviii 19.
I haif quhyt off grit delyt, And violett, quha lykis to weir, Weill werand reid, quhill ȝe be deid
1603 Montgomery Mem. II 246.
For thri vyrs to uer vith Inglich roufs, iij s.
1607 Crim. Trials II 536.
Ordanit the said James to tak nyne pickillis of quheit, nyne pickillis of salt and nyne peces of rowne-trie and to were thame continuallie vpone him, for his helth
(b) c1420 Wynt. ii 431 (W) (see (a) above). 1429–30 Acts II 18/1.
The king … has … ordanit that na man sal weir clathis of silk na furringis of martrikis … na nane other riche furring bot allanerly knychtis and lordis of ijc markis at the lest of ȝerly rent … but speciale leif of the king askit & obtenit
c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 111/7.
Now may thow weir the sabill, Sen he is gon, the flour of chevelrie
1549 Compl. 96/28.
That na Scottis man suld veir ony clais bot hardyn cotis
absol. 1567 Acts III 40/2.
That it be lauchfull to na wemen to weir abone thair estait except howris
(c) 1525 Misc. Bann. C. III 109.
I leife to Magnus Sincler my blew doublet … and my golden chenȝe the quhilk I weair dailly
1604-31 Craig i 18.
England for her sake now weaires the sabill weede
(d) 1638 Black Bk. Taymouth xxiii.
iii ell of reid skarlett freise to be … ane jerkin to wair under his clothes
p.t. ?1438 Alex. ii 3182.
The ald man with the hare berd That the mekill hude werd
(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 8710.
He had thair sa great gadering That weirit palice and tyre And silkin towellis that war schire
c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 160.
Ane surcote sche werit long … That semyt [vn]to me of diuerse hewis
(c) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1359.
Ane inkhorne, with ane prettie gilt pennair, Ane bag off silk, all at his belt he weir
(d) a1500 Henr. Garmont 39.
Scho woir nevir grene nor gray That set hir half so weill
a1500 Henr. Prayer 23.
O blissit Jesu, that wore the thorny croun
a1582 Sir Colling 86.
The gold that the ladie voir on hir guidlie vys
(e) c1475 Wall. iii 84.
Gude souir weide dayly on him he wour
1571 Sat. P. xxix 20.
Quhat mervall thocht the cerimony and claith of penitence Is vsit, and the other clayth of diuine reuerence … that Aron woure, is putt in negligence?
(f) 1489–90 Acta Conc. I 131/2.
It wes allegit … that the hinger of gold wes anornyment of the said Mergretis persone and at scho wire it in hir husbandis tyme that ded is
(g) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxx 30.
Wair
a1585 Maitland in Maitl. Q. 2/25.
Thair gudmen had caus to rewit That euer thair wyfis wair sic geir
16.. Maidment New Bk. Old Ballads 14.
He ware a ponet on hims head, Ane ourlar bout hims craigie
(h) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2915 (B).
Sum sayis be him that woare the croun of thorne It had been gude that Paull had neir bene borne
fig. a1500 Henr. Garmont 6.
Off he honour suld be hir hud, Vpoun hir heid to weir
c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 182/36.
Flattry weiris ane furrit goun And falsett with the lordis dois roun
1611-57 Mure Sonn. x 13.
This priest, or beist, doth weir a fylthy fame, A blotted conscience, and a spotted name
proverb. a1568 Bann. MS 134b/5.
He suld weir yrn schone Suld byd a manis deid
a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1137.
Manie man eats their meit and is not fed, and weirs their claiths and is not cled

b. specif.To wear (a crown, robes, etc.) as a symbol of one's office, rank, etc. hence, also fig. in some instances, to hold the office. 14.. Acts I 380/2.
Namys of thame that may nocht stande in assise … the lord the bailȝe na nane that his lifray veris
c1475 Wall. viii 642.
It war a our hie thing … to reyff my rychtwis king. I am his man … To wer the croun I will nocht tak on hand
1494 Loutfut MS 39b.
The fanon at the prest weris quhen he sais the mes
c1500 Barounis Lawis 10a.
In the court of Robory ilk fremane may gif and ȝeild dome on quhat party mutand that him likis … And alsua he that ȝeildis that dome be nocht of his menȝe na warand his robis
?a1500 Steel Roy Robert (1700) p. 6.
Nor never stranger … weer'd our crown
c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 165/12.
Quhy skarris thow with this holy weid? Cleith thé thairin, for weir it thow most neid
1540 Lynd. Sat. 3374.
I weind ȝour office had bene for til preich … Quhairfoir weir ȝe that mytour ȝe me tell?
a1578 Pitsc. II 144/1.
Thair durst nocht ane mese [sc. mass] be said in Scotland … nor ane bischope weir ane nwikit bonnett
1604-31 Craig i 9.
Thou design'd her diadems to weyre, Of royall blood her nyest agnat heyre
c1650 Spalding I 37.
The bischopis … weir thar blak gouns without rotchetis or quhyt sleives
1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) ii 33.
Those … Who diadems wear on their head, And so much Christian blood mispends, Either for French or Spanish ends

c. To have as part of the body. 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 156.
The corn hes the caf And kow weris clufe

2. a. To carry (a weapon), to wear armour. b. To wear armorial bearings, to wear the arms of another. Also proverb.a. 1375 Barb. i 355.
The byschop full curtasly Resavyt him, and gert him wer His knyvys forouth him to scher
c1475 Wall. iii 87.
A habergione vndyr his goune he war
1513 Doug. xi ii 87.
The drery cumpany … in syng of dolour, weris Scheldis reversyt, and doun turnyt thar speris
1535 Stewart 219.
Of mid stature wes baith his fute and hand, He semit weill to weir ane buirlie brand
1549 Compl. 96/24.
He [sc. Edward I] ordand that na Scottis man suld veyr na vaupyn bot ane knif of fife inche of lyntht, vitht out ane point
1561 Inverness Rec. I 65.
The prowest … puttis alluterlie inhibitioun to the saidis Johne and Jasper Dampster that thai nother burge nor brage nor armourse wayr within this burgh
1601 Crim. Trials II 370.
Thay wure vpoun thair bodeis … pistolettis and gunnis
1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II 24.
The said Johne Hammiltoun boore and woore pistolets
1628 St. A. Baxter Bks. 88.
If ony of thame … draw or vear ane quhinger, the partie offendar to pay [etc.]
b. c1450-2 Howlat 358 (A).
The Emprioure of Almane the armes he [sc. the pursuivant] weris As signifer souerane
1456 Hay I 276/19.
Than will he declare the armes that all princis and nobleis and othir gentillis aw to were, and of thair colouris and discripciouns
1596 Dalr. I 131 marg.
The ryd lyon he weires in his armes
1690 Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874) 26.
The said Lord William Murray is … to … bear and wear the armes and cognizance of the house and family of Nairne
proverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1627.
Ye weir the King of France his armes ye hav ane holl in ilkane elbow

3. intr.Of a fixed period of time or something valid or lasting for a fixed period: To pass, expire, finish. Chiefly with furth, out. Also to wear away (short), to come to an end, to grow less, draw to a close.(1) c1420 Wynt. ii 1305.
And quhen hyr tyme wes weryd owte Off this bysyn best, … Scho wes delywyre
c1420 Wynt. viii 1682.
Nevyrtheles he wes in dowt, Or his cwndyt wes worne out
1472–3 (1476) Reg. Great S. 258/1.
Eftir the termes of 5 yeris are worne furth and bipassit
1525 (1527) Reg. Great S. 97/2.
Gif ony feman of the said craft pas furth of the toun or his band of his service be worne furth, that he sall pay [etc.]
1596 Dalr. I 265/21.
Quhen thir feildes war fochten and thir weiris worne out, William returnes to France
(2) c1475 Wall. iii 427.
That thow wald grant, quhill thir trewis war worne, Na scaith to do till Inglisman that is born
c1475 Wall. vi 324.
A fre remyt he suld ger to thaim mak, For alkyn deid that thai had doyne beforn. The Perseis pees and Schyr Ranaldis wes worn
c1475 Wall. ix 659.
Off tym that is by worn
(3) 1596 Dalr. I 70/13.
This warlde now sa neir ane end, and weirand sa fast away
a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xv 44.
My noysome nicht of absence worne auay
1637 Rutherford Lett. (1664) 197.
Your after-noon will wear short, and your sun fall low and goe down

b. To be worne (wornit) out (of prentischip), to have worn furth (one's prenticeship), to have completed the period of one's apprenticeship. 1475 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 232.
Quhen ony prentisses has completit his termis and is worne out, he sall be examined be the four men gif he be sufficient or nocht to be a fallow of the craft
1504 (1549–50) Reg. Great S. 93/2.
That the prentis quhen he is wornit out of prentischip till be servand in till ane baikhous of the said burgh
1550 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. I 17.
That nae persone be received to the freedom of the said craft … but they that have first been prentices and worn furth their prenticeship conform to their band thereof

4. a. To move gradually or slowly. b. tr.To cause (a person) to move gradually.a. c1475 Wall. x 355.
Byschop Beik com with sic force and slycht, The worthy Scottis weryt fer on bak
c1600 Crim. Trials II 296.
They baith wraslit togidder, a certane space … till his maiestie with him weirit neir the oppin windo
1649 St. A. Presb. 136.
He saw 7 or 8 women dancing, with a mekle man in the midst of them, who did weare towards him
b. 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 191.
Hir maiestie … did dryue my father be hir bak backward … & woor him withe hir handis fordward … & … did stay the Erle of Bothwell fra that violens … for that tyme

c. Of the wind: To cause (a garment) to flutter, blow out. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 165.
His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir

d. To gradually change in state. Also fig., to change from a state or opinion. 1533 Boece 586b.
[They] secretlie wrocht thair at quhill ane small bore throw the dike was persit; … swa be preis of the watter the hole verand mare ample and large … bering downe the dyke, it ruschit out one bred attour the feildis quhair placit was the Inglis camp
fig. a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 179.
Watch … especially over your hearts, that they weare not out of a spiritual frame
a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 25.
The scripture insists so much in giving Him such stately stiles, even to wear souls out of their atheistical thoughts of Him, and to prefer and esteem Him above all

5. To cause to deteriorate in condition, to (cause) decay, to erode gradually; to damage through wear and tear, to misuse. Chiefly in past participle. Also absol. 14… Old Dundee I 560.
Wat of Muncur … is suirte for Sir Nychol Segden that he sal not wer the organis
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 213.
Upoun thy botingis hobland, … Stra wispis hingis owt quhair that the wattis ar worne
1513 Doug. ii viii 45.
With instrumentis of irne we pyke and seik Round al about quhar the ionyngis war worn, Reddy to fall, and corbalys al to torn
1531 Bell. Boece I xxviii.
Howbeit the brayis, be alluvioun and flux of seis, ar worne
1549 Compl. 28/10.
The file that filit the yrne is vorne and cassin auaye as ane thing onutil to serue to do ony gude verk
1571 Inverness Rec. I 203.
He yeirle be the space of thre yeiris hes worne my cartis and sleddis, viz., yeirle tuay mukkin sleddis and tuay corne sleddis and coft newyr ane sled
a1585 Maitl. Q. 202/43.
As the drope of water weris the stone
1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 235.
Fyndis the watter mettis and land mettis … to be awld, worn, and decayet
1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 566.
His blew clock beand worne so bair
1595 Skene in Misc. Stair Soc. I 146.
The cariage of tapistrie is not onlie costlie bot alsua it weiris and spillis the samen
absol. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxvi 6.
Thocht luistie ȝouthe dois bewtie beire, Ȝitt ȝouthe, be aige, in tyme dois weir
1607 W. Alexander Alexandrean Tragedy 2527.
From the best to worst all things do weare
?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 134.
When he subscryvit the protestation, he subscryvit verie neir the end of the paper; and it began to weare

b. To were away, to cause (something material or non-material) to decay, disappear or diminish, to erode or eliminate (a set of circumstances, state, condition, etc.) gradually. Also intr. c. tr. To be worn out, to be excluded or eliminated by a gradual process, to have gone out of use gradually.b. c1420 Ratis R. 1732.
Fra tyme haif woirn awaye resoun, Sik is of eild conclusioun
a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 467.
All welth in eird away as wind it weiris
15.. Clar. i 330.
He heallit of his woundis day be day, Quhill all his painis worne war cleine away
1560 Rolland Seven S. 8960.
Fra he that hard … he was … Als blyith at hart, and sturt away was worne, As euer he was, fra first day he was borne
a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 37/6, 12.
Quhair is the blythnes that hes bein … All mirrines is worne away … Lordis lattis thair kitchingis cule … And scant hes ane to keip thair mule All houshaldaris is worne away
1584 Acts III 304/1.
The buikis of adiornall may … be oft handeling be worne away
c1590 Fowler I 289/38.
All this goodlye glorious shew sal vanish as we see A garment old to wer away and older for to be
1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 150.
That manly art [sc. archery] which now is wearing away by degrees, and the gun takeing place
intr. c1590 Fowler I 84/202.
A sweit cleir light that cummeth to decay. Whose nurishing by peice and pece dois softlye weir away
1597 Melvill 438.
We saw the sunne … Begin to los his light and turn to blak Whilk piece and piece his whait did weare away
c. 1533 Boece 55b.
Sum tyme was ane porte … convenient to harbery schippis … bot now it is stoppit be glar and rutis of wedis … the watteris ar worne out and growin to swarde
1596 Dalr. I 86/17.
The ald Britanne language [is] in euerie place worne out
1622-6 Bisset I 315/30.
Perambulatioun is almoist worne out of use
1633 (1711) Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. 16.
Many of them … speak a Norse tongue, corrupted, (they call Norn) amongst themselves, which is now much worn out
1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 35.
Holiness written upon the boulls of the houses, I trow be worn out of this neock of the land
1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 157.
An aparition … desired [her] … to call him Simon, for that name was almost worn out of the famely
1682 Dunblane Synod 193.
The bishop enquyred … if that the twenty-nine of May be weil observed by all of them? The moderators … answered that it was observed by some, but was worne out of dait by others

6. a. To cause (a person) to lose strength, to cause to become weak or infirm. b. intr.To lose strength, grow weak, waste away.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 127.
He is waistit and worne fra Venus werkis
1533 Boece 339a.
Quhen he was worne be age … regentis war chosin
b. (1) c1600 Montg. Suppl. xii 10.
My eyes with tereis dois weir
1604-31 Craig i 41.
Sadd are my thoughts, sowr sighs; and salt my tearis: My body thus els waik both wayn's and wearis
1649 Sel. Biog. I 407.
When he was wearing weaker, he fell in a swoon
(2) 1596 Dalr. I 287/8.
The king … in the nycht seasone … sueitis continuallie, throw sueit he dekayes, and weiris away

c. To were apon, to wear down by continual attack. c1515 Asl. MS I 189/22.
We … wore apon the Romanis and occupiit thaim sa that we gart thaim big twa wallis fra the est se to the west se

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