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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.

Walkryf(e, Wa(i)krife, adj. Also: walkrif(e, -ryffe, -ryif, valkryf(fe, walkeryf, walcryif, ualkeryfe, wakerife, waikryf(e, wakryff, -rife, wacryff, (volkryf). [17th c. Eng. wake-rife (1622); Walk v.¹ (cf. Wak(e n.) and Rife adj.]

1. Unsleeping, alert, wakeful; watchful of physical events. Also fig.There is some overlap between the senses a1500 Henr. Fab. 499.
Chantecleir … Our walkryfe [Bann. walcryif] watche vs for to warne and tell 1490 Irland Mir. III 139/36.
His noblis … suld wse sobyrnes in mete & drink for than thai are mare walkrif and scharpe in thar wyt 1494 Loutfut MS 130b.
He that is ledar of the host suld be walkryf sobir prudent 1513 Doug. iv v 17.
Mony fedderis bene on hir body fynd, Als mony walkryfe eyn lurkis thar vndir 1513 Doug. v viii 33.
With hys body only, and walkryfe e, The strakis onfar enchewys and keppyt he 1528 Lynd. Dreme 897.
The gude hird, walkryfe and delygent, Doith so, that all his flokis ar rewlit rycht 1533 Boece 457a.
Raissing hidduous schowtis to abais the Norowayis (gif ony ȝit war fresche and walkrife) 1533 Bell. Livy II 223/33.
Eftir this punycioun made on the watche baith the Gaulis and Romanis war the more walkrife 1533 Bell. Livy II 222/19.
Thai come sa quietlie to the hicht … that thai dissauit nocht onelie the watchemen bot als dissauit the doggis, howbeit the sam ar walkrife beistis 1565 Breadalbane Lett.
We haif derectit out sum servanttis of ouris to be walkryif throwe the cuntre 1567 Sat. P. v 76.
Be walkryfe and fall not on sleip, Baith day & nycht gar walk your port 1600-1610 Melvill 75.
Mr. Thomas was verie wacryff and peanfull, and skarslie tuk tyme to refreche nature(b) c1565 Irving Dumbartonsh. I 132.
[To] caus the capitane of Dunberten to be diligent and volkryf that na bottis nor veshill … gangbyfig. 1513 Doug. iv v 51.
The walkryfe fyre … altymys byrnand

b. Of a period of time: During which wakefulness occurs. 1533 Bell. Livy II 186/8.
That this toun of Falerium suld irk the Romanis with als lang sege, als sare travell & walkrife nychtis or it war tane

c. Of thoughts: Inducing wakefulness, preventing sleep. c1590 J. Stewart 90/391.
The valkryf thochtis of his cair … Permits him nocht to sleip

2. fig.Mentally alert, watchful, attentive, esp. to others' or one's own well being.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1576.
This … lyoun May signifie ane prince … Quhilk suld be walkrife gyde and gouernour Of his pepill … Bot lyis still in lustis, sleuth, and sleip a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 70 (Arund.).
Pece in ȝour pepill, trew iustice & prudence, Resoundand curage & walkrif besynes 1490 Irland Mir. II 52/22.
The cummyn of the sone of God to the iugement, suld gere ws be deligent walkrif [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I 115.
[They] war nocht sa walkrif and provident in al materis as thay suld haif ben 1535 Stewart 15.
Walkryffe 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 376.
O prudent prencis marke wyselie With pringnant wyttis & walkryfe ee Ȝour jugis quhen ȝe go to chuse 1572 Sempill in Sat. P. xxx 75.
Walkryfe in weirs, and watcheman to the rest 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 117.
I find it gud that ȝe be als walkryffe about your place and guidis as ȝe may c1580 Sc. Ant. XIII 3.
He may ever appeir to all men ane just and walkryfe judge als weill in the ouerthrawing of his enemies … as in reuling 1588 King Cat. 23.
Give one a valkryffe harte … that na tribulation may mak veirie 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 101/2.
Ualkeryfe 1599 Maxwell Mem. II 41.
So long careles sleping … doeth bot incourage the walkeryf enemie(b) a1538 Abell 86b.
A waikrife oursear to the heill of thare nychtbure 1561 Craven Ch. in Orkney II 17.
Waikryf 1584 Melvill 187.
Wha, sleiping in thair sinnes, hes nocht wacryff eis to sie the plag 1584 Melvill 189.
Wakryff 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 509.
Ane waikryfe devill daylie to wirk, To saw seditione in the Kirk 1584 Calderwood IV 152.
Wakerife 1588 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 740.
A convention of the maist wacryff and cearfull of the breithren … met at Edinburghe 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 222/383.
Wakrife 1633 Johnston Diary I 110.
I prayed unto the Lord … 'I haive sinned greatly … uphald me … against tentations, direct me in my confusions and, Lord, seing thou wilt on way or uther hald me waikryfe, let it be by the sence of my affliction