Glossary of Scottish Dialect : W
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
These definitions are taken from the “Glossary of Scottish Dialect” from The Harvard Classics volume 6, “The Poems and Songs of Robert Burns,” 1909. The volume is in the public domain. Aside from their inherent interest, they are valuable to anyone reading the work of Burns.
Wa’,
waw, a wall.
Wab, a web.
Wabster, a weaver.
Wad, to wager.
Wad, to wed.
Wad, would, would have.
Wad’a, would have.
Wadna, would not.
Wadset, a mortgage.
Wae,
woful, sorrowful.
Wae, wo; wae’s me = wo is to me.
Waesucks, alas!
Wae worth, wo befall.
Wair, v. ware.
Wale, to choose.
Wale, choice.
Walie,
wawlie, choice, ample, large.
Wallop, to kick; to dangle; to gallop; to dance.
Waly fa’, ill befall!
Wame, the belly.
Wamefou, bellyful.
Wan, won.
Wanchancie, dangerous.
Wanrestfu’, restless.
Ware,
wair, to spend; bestow.
Ware, worn.
Wark, work.
Wark-lume, tool.
Warl’,
warld, world.
Warlock, a wizard
Warl’y,
warldly, worldly.
Warran, warrant.
Warse, worse.
Warsle,
warstle, wrestle.
Wast, west.
Wastrie, waste.
Wat, wet.
Wat, wot], know.
Water-fit, water-foot (the river’s mouth).
Water-kelpies, v. kelpies.
Wauble, to wobble.
Waught, a draft.
Wauk, to awake.
Wauken, to awaken.
Waukin, awake.
Waukit (with toil), horny.
Waukrife, wakeful.
Waulie, jolly.
Waur, worse.
Waur, to worst.
Waur’t, worsted, beat.
Wean (wee one), a child.
Weanies, babies.
Weason, weasand.
Wecht, a measure for corn.
Wee, a little; a wee = a short space or time.
Wee things, children.
Weel, well.
Weel-faured, well-favored.
Weel-gaun, well-going.
Weel-hain’d, well-saved.
Weepers, mournings (on the steeve or hat).
Werena, were not.
We’se, we shall.
Westlin, western.
Wha, who.
Whaizle, wheeze.
Whalpet, whelped.
Wham, whom.
Whan, when.
Whang, a shive.
Whang, flog.
Whar,
whare, where.
Wha’s, whose.
Wha’s, who is.
Whase, whose.
What for,
whatfore, wherefore.
Whatna, what.
What reck, what matter; nevertheless.
Whatt, whittled.
Whaup, the curlew.
Whaur, where.
Wheep, v. penny-wheep.
Wheep, jerk.
Whid, a fib.
Whiddin, scudding.
Whids, gambols.
Whigmeleeries, crotches.
Whingin, whining.
Whins, furze.
Whirlygigums, flourishes.
Whist, silence.
Whissle, whistle.
Whitter, a draft.
Whittle, a knife.
Wi’, with.
Wick a bore, hit a curling-stone obliquely and send it through an opening.
Wi’s, with his.
Wi’t, with it.
Widdifu’, gallows-worthy.
Widdle, wriggle.
Wiel, eddy.
Wight, strong, stout.
Wighter, more influential.
Willcat, wildcat.
Willyart, disordered.
Wimple, to meander.
Win, won.
Winn, to winnow.
Winna, will not.
Winnin, winding.
Winnock, window.
Winnock-bunker, v. bunker.
Win’t, did wind.
Wintle, a somersault.
Wintle, to stagger; to swing; to wriggle.
Winze, a curse.
Wiss, wish.
Won, to dwell.
Wonner, a wonder.
Woo’, wool.
Woodie,
woody, a rope (originally of withes); a gallows rope.
Woodies, twigs, withes.
Wooer-babs, love-knots.
Wordy, worthy.
Worset, worsted.
Worth, v. wae worth.
Wraith, ghost.
Wrang, wrong.
Wud, wild, mad.
Wumble, wimble.
Wyliecoat, undervest.
Wyte (weight), blame.
Wyte, to blame; to reproach.