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: 1726-1921
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WINSOME, adj. Also winsom, wunsome, wainsome (Ayr. 1869 J. Stirrat Poems 92), ¶waynesome (Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms lxxxvi. 5). Of persons: pleasing or attractive in appearance, manner or nature, charming, comely, gay, engaging (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 200, 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson), occas. also of things. Now adopted in St. Eng. Adv. winsomely, in an attractive manner, n. winsomeness, pleasantness in manner, attractiveness (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 235:
Busk ye, busk ye, my bonny bonny bride, Busk ye, busk ye, my winsome marrow.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 183:
Regents, my winsome billy boys!Sc. 1784 Jock o the Side in Child Ballads No. 187 B. xxv.:
O Jock, sae winsomely's ye ride, Wi baith your feet upo ae side.Ayr. 1792 Burns My Wife's a Winsome i.:
She is a winsome wee thing.Dmf. 1805 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 700:
Wi' gracefu' blush the lassie smil'd, An' out her wunsom' pipe she drew.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality vii.:
O wow! my winsome bairn, Cuddie.Sc. 1842 D. Vedder Poems 142:
A willy waught o' this winsome ware.Abd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 67:
Sic a bonnie winsome little'n.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (1 Dec.):
Shü might be winsome, bit Güd follow me as shu's no bonnie.Rxb. 1921 Kelso Chronicle (25 Nov.) 3:
One decent body said I was a rale nice dog to bring home such a winsome fish when meat was that dear.
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"Winsome adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/winsome>
