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.

Wildnes, Wyldnes, n. [ME and e.m.E. wyldnesse (Chaucer), wildnes (Destr. Troy).] a. The state of not being tame; shyness. b. = Wildirnes n. 1 (2) or editorial misreading for wildirnes with MS abbreviation for ir. —a. 1596 Dalr. I 31/26.
Lyke wylde hartes … quhilkes, throuch a certane wyldnes of nature, flie the cumpanie, or syght of men —b. ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 30.
O sueit Lord, quhen Ȝe had fastit xl dais and fourty nichtis in the wildnes