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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wer(e)lik(e, Weirlyk(e, Warlike, adj. and adv. Also: werlyk(e, werelyk, weirelyk, weirlike, veirlyk, vierlyck, wearlyk, wearelyke, wearlelyke, wirlyk, warlic, -lyk(e, -lick, warrelik, -lyk(e, warelyke. [e.m.E. warlyke (1551), warrelyk (1555), warlicke (1561), warlike (1563); Wer(e n.¹]

A. adj.1. a. Of persons: Eager for martial achievement, bellicose; skilled in warfare, martial, valiant. b. Of a thing, action or attitude: Martial, bellicose, aggressive, hostile.Some examples in b may belong in 2 c.a. c1420 Wynt. ix 3186.
He saw before the ost cummand Twa werelike [A. weirelyk] men, and in thare hand Bare thare pol-axis, as for til have Sum dede off were before the lave c1475 Wall. iv 323.
Thir werlik Scottis … Northt so our Ern throuch out the land thai went a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 567 (Asl.).
Julius Cesar that werelyk emprioure 1513 Doug. xi x 47.
This maid, That weirlike [Ruddim. werely] was and awfull onto se c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 498.
Monie weirlyke knicht 1594 Misc. Bann. C. III 169.
The … name of this weirlyk chiftane dois fle and pas athort the mouthis of all men a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 246.
Nather of thir erlis war bellicous men, bot yit Murray was the maist weirlyk … for he was a cumlie personage of a great stature and strang of bodie lyke a kempb. c1475 Wall. viii 1021.
Trumpattis blew with mony werlik soun 1533 Bell. Livy I 1/5.
Armipotent Lady Bellona … Thy werelike trumpett thounder in myne ere 1565 Mill Mediæv. Plays 154.
Certane seditious personis craftismen … prowokit to a certane bauld raschnes … hes … schakine of all debtfull obedience … and … hes … attemptit … to mak oppine convocatioun in weirlyk maner 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 495.
Certane uther musalit men on horsback, in weirlike maner, with pistolettis 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 8.
Johne Leslie … seiking … to execute his wicked intentioun convocat … his haill freindis … in maist werlyk maner

2. For or appropriate to warfare. a. Of a person, with reference to his dress or function. b. Of dress or equipment. c. Of behaviour, actions, appearance, etc. d. Of walls: Fortified. e. Of a place: ? = sense d above or given over to war.Some examples in c may belong in 1 b.a. c1420 Wynt. ix 1776.
Henry the Percy … Wes armyt all oure in bryny bricht … Davy lorde than de Lyndesay Said til hym … Schyr Henry quhat makis you to be Sa werelike [C. wirlyk] as yow now we se a1500 Sir Eger 863.
See your gear be good and meet Look that ye arm you … And as warlike as ever ye would, Ride this day a battel to hold c1590 Fowler II 138/5.
Thy werlyke pepill … and the rest not gevin to the excerse of armes [etc.]b. 1513 Doug. viii vii 168.
The … weirlyk steil hait glowys 1513 Doug. ix v 186.
A bustuus lyon skyn, That rowch and weirlyke [Ruddim. werelik] tawbart na thing thyn c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 371.
He … him drest, Wantonlie, in his weirlyke weid, All weill enarmit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2757.
Weirlyke cairtis 1588 Soc. Ant. IV 426.
Ane trim sailer and vierlyck schip 1610 Crim. Trials III 108.
Schippis … weill mannit and furneissit with all weirlyke prouisioun 1615 Highland P. III 258.
Cannonis and vther wearlelyke furnitour to 1615 Highland P. III 259.
Warrelyk 1615 Melrose P. 223.
Wearelykec. 1533 Boece 111b.
To werelike discipline thir concernis maist becaus without the samyn na victory apoun inemyis may be conquest 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 69.
Cuming to the feildis in werlike maner with displayit baneris(b) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 367.
Use all uther kynd of hostilitie and weirlyke ingyne unto the wynning and recovering thairof 1571 Treas. Acc. XII 283.
All erlis, lordis … frehaldaris … to prepair thame selffis … in weirlyke maner to meit my lord regentis grace at Leith … with xl dayis victuallis and with palyeonis to ly on the feildis 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 93.
For ordinance thay dung at day and nycht By weirlyk volyis 1576 Reg. Privy S. VII 111/1.
Asseigeing of the samin be weirlyke persute a1578 Pitsc. II 58/29.
My lord cardinall caussit his servandis to addres thame selffis in maist weirlyk array witht jake, knapsco [etc.] 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I 103.
Brokin men … bodin in veirlyk maner 1587-99 Hume 57/191.
Euen sik … Sall armed be that day with spear and shield Baith horsse and fute in weirlike maner drest 1602 Aberd. B. Rec. II 233.
They … in thair maist substantious and weirlyk maner … addres thame selffis to meitt ws(c) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 27.
Wearlyk(d) 1565 Lennox Mun. 264.
Warlic 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 90.
Warrelik 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 302.
To cum out, in most warrelyke maner, with carted ordinance, to the brige of Evan 1587 Laing MSS 59.
Incursions … in hostiall and warlick maner 1593 Reg. Morton I 185.
That … we … may be … admittit in the maist fensible and warelyke maner to be about his majestie 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 112.
He wes a gentleman most expert in all warlyk disciplin a1650 Row 511.
The king making all warre-lyke preparations 1660 Lamont Diary 123.
The king of Sweden … was interred in a siluer coffin … wheron all his warlick atchiuments were drawend. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4029.
Those weirlyke wallis thay dang doune. 1640 Fugitive Poetry II xix 2/43.
Like Scipio ent'ring Carthage warlick coast

B. adv.a. As if in war. b. As is typical of war.a. 1600-1610 A. Melvill in 1600-1610 Melvill 161.
At whase pleasure … the best nobilitie … ar forfaulted … and all thair guids … giffen to the saulles clyent of Guise … The quhilk merciless men with the guids and gear of the … innocent, as with the spuilȝie of thair enemies ar gorgiuslie arrayit, and accompanied warlyke with a sort of limmers and godles suddartesb. 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii 343.
What martiall troupes did valiantly defend Thine earthen strengths … Some rot some rent … Some warlike maim'd, some lame [etc.]