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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Weddir, Wethir, Wathir, n.¹ Also: weddire, -yr, -er, wedyr(e, -er, wed(dr-, ved(d)ir, uedder, vedthir, weider, weadder, woddir, -er, woder, wo(o)ddar, vodyr, wadder, vadder, widder, wether, -eyr, weathir, -er, weatther, wather(e, -eir, vather, wother. [ME and e.m.E. weder(e (both Layamon), wedir (Rolle), wedder (Cursor M.), weddir (c1403), wethyr (c1475), weddre (Caxton), weather (1530), OE weder, ON veðr.]

1. (The) weather, atmospheric conditions as regards heat, cold, wind, rain, etc., specif. qualified by a term indicating a particular sort of weather, in attrib. and predic. constructions. Also proverb. and pl.Some examples overlap with 4 below.attrib. 1375 Barb. iii 387.
He thocht he to Kyntyr wald ga … Till wynter wedder war away a1400 Leg. S. xl 578.
Quhare thire twa prayand ware, The fellone weddire thare forbare a1500 Henr. Fab. 1292 (Ch.).
In to ane coif he crap, Fra sair wedder and frostis c1475 Wall. vii 182.
Trubbill weddyr makis schippis to droune 1513 Doug. v iii 47.
In the calm or lowyn weddir 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 288.
The ewill weddyr that cowme in swc sort that, gyf we had passit fordwart, we had lossit ane greit part of our army 1549 Compl. 41/1.
God send, God send, fayr vedthir, fayr vedthir 1549 Compl. 56/27.
Fra ther operations and constellations procedis tempest, stormis, fayr veddir, foul veddir [etc.] 1550 Treas. Acc. IX 416.
Lachettis … to knet his pointis to in het wedder 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3409.
Storme, fyreflauchts, hale, raine & mekill mair Of ill wedder 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 213.
Tempest and stormie wedder 1598 Misc. Maitl. C. I 91.
Fair and sessonabill wedder for the inbringing af the ground of the fruittis thairof(b) 1531 Bell. Boece I vi.
Quhen Priapus with stormy weid[er] oppres Raqueistit me … To rest ane quhile amid his gardingis bare(c) 1556 Black Bk. Taymouth 126.
Variabil vodyr lityl tylt in that wontyr 1570 Leslie 93.
Woder 1570 Leslie 126.
Ane vehement storm of tempestious wooddar(d) 1604-31 Craig ii 119.
In fairest shining sunne the fowlest wadder 1614 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 222.
Maist onseasonabill waddir(e) 1568 Charteris Lyndesay Pref. Adhort 52.
Ȝe haif ane cloik now reddy for the rayne: For fair wether, ane vther ay at hand 1571 Cal. Sc. P. IV 52.
Wethir 1607 Urie Baron Ct. 11.
Wetheyr(f) a1578 Pitsc. II 312/21.
Evill weathir 1678 Cleland 26.
Boasterous weather(g) 1581 Stirling Ant. IV 130.
The foul wathir that was that day threw the quhilk nane myt travell to the kirk 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 81.
Vather 1663 Arniston Mem. 27.
I had upon my journey much ill wather and bad way 1685 Dunlop P. III 17.
The cuntry is very hot most lyek our hotest wather in Jun 16… Highland P. II 268.
He perished by snow and stormie wathere(h) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 241.
Saillit to Opslo, whare Queyne Anne was attending upoun fayre wotherproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1091.
Fair wedder winnis the hay a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1746.
Ye bred of il weddir ye cum unsend forpl. ?1438 Alex. ii 5016.
In middes the moneth of May, Quhen winter wedders ar away c1400 Troy-bk. i 412, 413.
Scho couth … raise wyndis … Quhar-throw watteris and wedderis soft Wald all perwert and wedderis styth Baith ger fall rayn and haile so swith a1500 Rauf C. 21.
In thay wickit wedderis thair wist nane to dwell a1500 Henr. Fab. 458 (Bann.).
Wederis wan and wete 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 345.
In winter weddiris baith in wind and rane … He raid(b) 1535 Stewart 7383.
Syne winter come with woderis cuill and caldpredic. a1400 Leg. S. xlix 133.
The vedir is fel & il ?1438 Alex. ii 400.
The day is fare, the sone is bricht, The wedder is baith fare and licht a1500 Rauf C. 59.
The wedder is sa schill 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 112.
Becaus the weddir wes ewill [he] rait about be Striveling 1535 Stewart 11215.
In symmer syne quhen the wadder grew warme a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlviii 37.
In the walk-mill the wedder [Bann. MS widder] is ill; Thir ar nocht drying dayis 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 31.
The seas ar to be crossed, and the wodder oftymes so uncertane and unseasounablepl. a1500 Rauf C. 74.
Thow suld be wel-cum to pas hame with me … For the wedderis ar sa fell, that fallis on the feild

b. With indef. art. and pl.: A period or occasion of a particular sort of weather. a1500 Rauf C. 97.
Sa fell ane wedder feld I neuer 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 602.
His said cattell, for eschewing of the violence … of a stormy wether, … to withdraw … to the ley of the saidis woddespl. 1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V 200.
Upoun Trinity Fair evin, gif it be ane fair day, and failyeing thairof of the nixt fair wedder

2. Without qualification. a. Good or bad weather, esp. the atmospheric conditions suitable for travelling, sailing, etc.(a) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 20 (B).
And he be redy to sayle the maystyr aw … to say lordis we hafe this weddyr sum sais the weddyr is gude and sum says nay [etc.] 1464–5 Acts XII 31/1.
That alssoun as the session of the weddir askis the king mowe [etc.] a1500 K. Hart 660.
Quha … feld nevir cauld … Quhat wedder is thairout … How suld he wit? 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 106.
The wedder hes been sua this thre wolkis … that a man mycht nocht do na thing for weit 1528 Lynd. Dreme 774.
The myd regioun of the air, Quhare no maner of perturbatioun Off wodder may ascend so hie 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7393.
The skipper speillit belyue to the top mast To spy the wedder, gif tempest did appeir 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics i 27.
Tempestatumque, tempora, vices temporum (the weadder) 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 10.
Despysing all discommoditeis of the way and wedder 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I 105.
Woddar(b) 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics ii 337.
Tenorem, course of weather ?c1591 Warrender P. (SHS) II 156.
[Even the] insenseable elements and fairnes of the wether [contributed] to his happy and blissed hamecumming 1596 Dalr. I 5/10.
Sa grett clemencie and temperance of the wathir is in Britannie, that Cæsar said [etc.] 1631 Annandale Corr. 284.
Ye … woold presently com hetheir what watheir soewir it war 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 587.
Wich he wes wounderous lothe to doe, in respecte of the coldnesse of the wether

b. Good weather, weather suitable for harvesting, travelling, etc. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1486.
Thar-to weddire had thai thane, That thai wane froyt of land & se Thru his prayere ?14.. Ship Laws c. 18 (B).
And thai lay thair schyp redy in the see [etc.] … and he hafe weddyr before hym [etc.] 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. 171a.
It cum to the parts of Scotland quhan God send word and wodder 1621–2 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 113.
If the wadder doe breake, … I mynd to returne to London a1680 Blair Autob. 62.
They had got in the most of their corns ere the weather brake

c. In collocation with serve (permit), with reference to favourable weather conditions for travelling, etc. 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 12.
Our purpos is on the sevint day of June, Gif weddir serve [etc.] 1547–8 Cal. Sc. P. I 79.
The wather serveth not well 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 204.
[That Mr. Johnne Hay … shall go abroad] wind and wedder servand [before the 1st October] 1583 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 34.
Houping that his Majestie will renew my licence … addand this claus ‘wind and wedder serwand’ and that it may haif the narrative that I am derect furth of the realme in his Hienes service 1619 Breadalbane Lett. 7 Dec.
I sal remaene in Neubotill quhill the vadder sall serue 1639 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 73.
If uedder uill permitt me I intend to stop on tyde neir the Holy Eyland 1668 Rothesay B. Rec. 154.
He sall cume to this brughe win and wather serving and healthe permitting

d. Bad weather, liable to cause difficulties or do damage. c1420 Wynt. i 716, 718.
Quhen thai ly on erde to slepe Fra swne and weddyr thaim to kepe … that a fwt wpe thai streke That it fra thaim the weddyr brek 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 220.
Twa flottis that culd nocht be cariit for wedder 1555 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 140.
Sua that thair stok in poynt of tinsell may be away led … sen thai culd nocht gudlie suffer the samin to byde forthir hasard of wodder 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 449.
The wadder wes not lyke to mend 1614 Highland P. III 171.
He went thair with greate difficulties of wadder 1616 Buchan Cl. IV 195.
The minister had no place to remain in and keep himself from injury of wedder when he cam to the kirk 1648 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 152.
The haill hous much indamnaged, quhilk they find to be occasioned be the beatting of the weatther on the lairge flait roff thairof

3. In collocation with wind. a. Esp. with reference to bad weather or conditions unfavourable to sailing, passing into 4 below. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 220.
Nane wald herbry tham in house, Bo[t] tholyt al … In wynd & wedyre ly a1400 Leg. S. xxi 10.
Wedyr & wynd he has in wald Fore-thi dewot til hym suld be Thai that saylis to the se c1420 Wynt. vi 2495.
As thai ware on se sayland The wynd swa skant wes than blawand And all the weddrys in thaire fayre Wes to thare purpos all contrayre a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 150.
The seuin planetis … Quhilk hes power of all thing generabill, To reull … Wedder and wind a1497, 15.. Gray MS i 5.
Thou may cum ane vther day Quhen wynd & wadder ar away 1596 Dalr. II 200/23.
In Edinburgh … rais sik a wind and wethir that in the toun fell mony houses 1600-1610 Melvill 287.
Let us nocht … for feir of stormie wound or wather, leave af to saw and schear the Lord's land 1610 Crim. Trials III 83.
Without … contrarietie of wind, wedder, or vther impedimentpl. c1400 Troy-bk. i 116.
Contrare wynd & wedderis wod That draf ws hydder

b. With reference to weather conditions favourable to sailing. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 745.
Vedir & wynd that wil had he, & saylit sone to his cuntre 1497 Acta Conc. II 88.
Georg sal pas with his sade schip … als haisty as wynd and wedder happinnis to serve him 1533 Boece 155b.
The schippis finding fare wynd and weddir … in the Firth of Tay arrivit 1535 Stewart 584.
The wynd wes fair, the wedder wes at will 1585 Prestwick B. Rec. 133.
That he had bene thir … awaitting vpoun schipping wind and weddir 1589 Douglas Chart. 296.
His boit … being alreddy laidnit, custumit, and biding wind and wadder to mak saill

4. In collocations or contexts where stormy conditions are implied, windy weather, tempest, gales. Also in fig. context. b. Storme (blast, bub, stres, tempest) of weddyr, also weddris blast. c1400 Troy-bk. i 206.
And throw mytht of thar goddes gret Be contrare wedder thame to thret, A likand wynd thame sett to land c1400 Troy-bk. i 426.
Scho [sc. Medea] wald rase wedderis one thame thare … That all suld peryse hastely c1420 Wynt. vii 3276.
In Scotland … he Arrywyd wyth a gret multitud Off schyppys … And thare be a tempest fell Off gret weddrys scharpe and snell Off fors thai behowyd to tak Land a1500 Rauf C. 27.
Ithand wedderis of the eist draif on sa fast, It all to-blaisterit and blew that thairin baid 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 355.
Ȝe that now bene lansyng vpe the ledder Tak tent in tyme, fassinnyng ȝour fingaris faste. Quho clymith moist heych moist dynt hes of the woder And leist defence aganis the bitter blast Off fals fortune 1533 Boece 186a.
The king quhilk, convoyit be sey to the ile callit Ila, be contrare wynd and tydis was impeschit, like as be the weddir he had bene repellit 1622-6 Bisset II 243/25.
It may chance that the maister may cut the mast be force of wedderb. ?14.. Ship Laws c. 7 (B).
Stres of wedrys cummys to thaim on seis half 1513 Doug. iv iv 65.
A bub of weddir followyt in the tayll 1513 Doug. x v 127.
The dyrk clowdis … Thai fle the weddris blast and rak of wynd 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 313.
The kyngis schyp … wes pwt bakwart be storme off weddyr 1561–2 Reg. Privy C. I 201.
Be tempest and stormis of wodder fallin this last wynter 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. v 317.
Nimbo, a blast of weather 1574–5 Reg. Privy S. VII 5/2.
The … havin of Carraill … is be stormes of wodder … now becum in dekay 1580 Inverness Rec. I 281.
Immediatle thairefter com ane greit tempest of weddir at thair out coming of the said port 1600-1610 Melvill 262.
Storme of wather haid dryven the navie by the cost of Eingland … upon an yll of Scotland 1615–16 Ayr B. Acc. 261.
[Part of the Tolbooth stair] blawin doun be storme of weddir 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 363.
[He] … perished as he wes ryding that river in a great speat and storme of weather 1643 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 25.
Ane shipp … haveing lowsed from the raid of Dysert be stres of wedder [etc.]

5. attrib. The weathergage, the windward, only fig. Weather glass, a thermometer or barometer. c1679 Kirkton Hist. 290.
I can never think but the contrivers of it designed to give the bishops the weathergage, the real advantage, and to give the presbyterians a false medicine — 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII 354.
A weather glase 1685 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 580.
For ane weather glass to the colledge 43 li. 10 s.