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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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WARSE, adj., n., adv. Sc. form and usages of Eng. worse (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 118; Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 102; Sc. 1819 Scott Leg. Montrose iv.; Rxb. 1871 H. S. Riddell Poet. Wks. I. 202; Fif. 1895 S. Tytler Kincaid's Widow x.; Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat. Comm. 29; I.Sc., Cai. 1973). The usage is chiefly liter. the reg. Sc. form is Waur, q.v. [wɑrs]Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 42:
" ... Efter this married, of corse, id's a different storry, for as thoo're aware, a man tak's his wife for better or for warse - chenerally id's warse - an' if shae gets fat thir's noathing he kin dae, except maybe gie her a geud skelp noo an' again cheust tae show her he disno approve o' her bein' fat. ... "Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 23:
And this is whit I focht for:
this hoose, this gairden. I'll no cowp owre that
for some daft notion o freedom that's juist
the freedom tae be warse aff.Dundee 2000 Matthew Fitt But n Ben A-Go-Go 136:
He had taen a skelpin aff the sun warse than fae the baist. A guid dose o the pysent licht wis unner his skin. Intil his bluid.

Sc. phr. and deriv.: 1. wars(e)n, to worsen (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; I.Sc., Cai. 1973); 2. warse o, worse for, in phrs. warse o drink, warse o the wear. Now only dial. in Eng. See O, prep., 1. (6) (ii), Of, prep., 4. (1).1. Sh. 1898 Shetland News (17 Sept.):
Wi' a light boat, an' da wadder warsnin'.2. Edb. 1731 W. Mitchel Wonderful Sermon 40:
When I married her, I was the worse of Drink.Sc. 1810 Scots Mag. (March) 234:
He was a little worse of drink, but not so bad as the deceased, who was very drunk.Bnff. 1856 J. Collie Poems 54:
A sma' thing the warse o' the wear.Fif. 1866 St Andrews Gaz. (3 March):
I make no doubt I was a little hearty, and might have been a little touched, but did not consider myself the worse of drink.