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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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WANWORTH, adj., n. Also wanwirt (Sh.); †wanwuth (Kcb. 1900; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

I. adj. Unworthy, worthless (Sc. 1808 Jam.; ‡Abd. 1930). Also in n.Eng. dial.Fif. 1846 W. Tennant Muckomachy 24:
'Gainst Barns and her wanworth attackers.Ags. 1883 J. Kennedy Poems 84:
Sic a waefu' wanworth meddler Weel deserves a hankit craig.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 81:
An' birst them again for a wanworth pack.em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 15:
Ye fuil fowk that wur radge for gowd
Mair nor for Heiven's hame content,
Wanworth an wastit is yer niffers,
An yer gowd's aw spent.

II. n. 1. A very low price for an article, an undervalue, a bargain (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb. 1900; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Abd. 1931), gen. in phrs. at, for a wanworth, extremely or excessively cheaply, at a bargain price, for next to nothing (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., ‡Abd. 1973).Sc. 1706 Sc. Antiquary XII. 103:
We cannot get our Guids sold unless we sell it at a Wanworth.Sc. 1765 Session Papers, Petition J. McPherson (23 July) 14:
In order to get possession of his estate at a wanworth.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 144:
The council winna lack sae meikle grace As lat our heritage at wanworth gang.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 95:
I saw nae wanworths gaun sae I coft naething.Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 126:
Ministers wha expeckit my gudes for a wanworth.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond B. Bowden (1922) 142:
Sandy had bocht an auld cairt, juist at a wanworth.Bwk. 1901 Hist. Bwk. Nat. Club XVIII. 131:
Speaking of the salmon as "just gat for a wanworth."Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 203:
[He] got it for a lifetime or mair at a mere wanworth.

2. (1) A thing of little value, something worthless, a trifle (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1973).Ags., e.Per. 1905 E.D.D.:
They made a lot o' money, but fat gude did it ever do them; it juist gaed a' awa' to a wanworth.Sh. 1947 New Shetlander (June-July) 2:
Robbie said among other things, that it was a wanwirt an a wa-cast.

(2) A worthless person, a good-for-nothing (Mry. 1925; Sh. 1973).Sc. 1849 A. Bell Melodies 25, 36:
O wae to the wanworth, the hard scrapin' elf, Wha thinks but o' hoardin', and hainin' his pelf . . . Tho' I am furthy, brisk, an' braw, Yet ay the wanworths bide awa'.Abd. 1876 R. Dinnie Songs 70:
Wanworths as she is may pair wi' a lackey.Per. 1878 R. Ford Hame-Spun Lays 30:
I've been a wanworth a' my life, A lo'er o' lawless bluidy strife.Bnff. 1933 M. Symon Deveron Days 17:
There's nae a wanworth o' them, though they werena Loons o' Mine.