Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1905
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WILL O' THE WISP, n.comb. Sc. usage: a move in draughts (see quot.). For Sc. forms of this phr., see Willie, prop.n., 2.Sc. 1905 A. Anderson Draughts xviii.:
The “Will o' the Wisp” is formed by the first three moves: — 11–15, 23 19, 9–13. It was so named by Mr G. Wallace of Glasgow, from the peculiarity of some of the variations, where the player finds to his loss he has been pursuing an ignis fatuus.
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"Will O' The Wisp n. comb.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/will_o_the_wisp>
