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.

Wre(i)st, Wra(i)st, n. Also: vreist, wri(e)st. [ME and e.m.E. wrest, wrayst (both Cursor M.), wrast (a1400-50), wraiste (a1425).]

1. A tuning-key for tightening the wires of certain stringed instruments. Also in fig. context. b. A twist of a tuning-key. c1460 Regim. Princ. 10 (Marchm.).
Bot and the stringis be nocht al trev and traist … Sal we the menstral wyt? Yha, bot he bent and pruf thaim with his wraist [Maitl. wreist] c1460 Regim. Princ. 299 (Maitl.).
Thus sen thow hes the harp … As gud menstrall to rewle it be musik Quhilk signifijs thy realme … Pull out thy wrast and gar thame sownd alyk, As gud menstrall to play in ane accorde a1500 Lay of Sorrow 64.
O ȝe that was bothe wrast and string Of all my myrth 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 333.
Wrests for virginals the groce … vi li.fig. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 409.
Gif nocht may pleys him in thi boundis all Than cheis the sang and I sall thraw the wristb. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 803.
Fidillis … with a string quhilk neuer a wreist ȝeid wrang 1570 Sat. P. xvii 67.
Euen as the man, the … Mistonit stringis castis not away … But peice and peice, be sundrie wrestis & layis, Ilk ane with vther be tyme causis agre

2. A twisting movement. b. The result of this, a twist or sprain in a joint, etc. Cf. Rest n.⁴ a1582 Sir Colling 233.
And sickane vreist he gaif him thair His hart vas brakin in thrieb. 1616 Dalyell Darker Superst. 118.
[To make] a wresting thread, and give it in the name of the Father, Sone, and the Holie Gaist, … it wald mak ony wrest of man or beast haill 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 123.
This balsam … is a soveraign cure for wrests, akings etc. a1700 Mare of Colinton 608.
The creash within my wame … will be good against the pine Of any wriest or strienȝie