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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.

Wre(i)st, Wra(i)st, v. Also: vraist, vreist, wreast, wrist, wryst. [ME and e.m.E. wraste(n (Layamon), wraist (Cursor M.), wreste(n (Chaucer), OE wrǽstan, ON *wreista.]

1. a. tr. To turn (over) (one's thoughts, etc.); to change, move (one's mind, attention, etc.). Also const. fra. Also intr. b. tr. To influence, divert (another's mind).a. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 10.
Langer slepe ne rest Ne myght I nat, so were my wittis wrest 1456 Hay II 90/33.
To geve gude ensample till otheris to wraist thair hertis and mak gude diligence to put thame self till honour of wysedome a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 235 (Arund.).
Thair is no ressoun our misreule can arreist This wrachit warld sa fer waikis our mynd. In warld of wisdome our will we will nocht wreist 1567 G. Ball. 70.
We gloir for to speik of Christ: … Bot far fra him our hartis we wreistintr. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvi 3.
I wreist, I wry, I wrassill with the windb. 1626 Garden Worthies 173.
Altho that youth did wreist thy [supra a young nobleman too much caried with the conceats of too too young counsallors] witt awray

2. To turn, twist (something) physically. Also intr. b. tr. To twist, sprain (a limb). 1460 Hay Alex. 1586.
Samsone haid na force Into the tyme to turn and wryst his hors 1460 Hay Alex. 3957.
The king his handis wraist Sayand ‘Allace’intr. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 277 (W) (see Wre(i)sting vbl. n. 1). 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Detorques, to wreastb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 469.
Alace! I haue wreistit my schank 1600-1610 Melvill 43.
Mr. Andro Weill mounted on horse because he haid wraisted his leg 1607 Crim. Trials III 3.
Mackoneill … wrested his kute in leaping

3. To twist or misinterpret (the law, scripture, etc.).(a) 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 221.
Godds wourd … suld nocht wreistit be, nor wryit, Nor vnto prophane thyngs applyit 1576 Orkney Oppress. 44.
Thair law was wreistit to the Lairdis particular proffit 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 62.
To vreist Christis maist plane vordis c1590 Fowler II 52/10.
Wreast 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 40.
The said Confession … wreasted to a contrare meaning 1641 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I xxxix.
It miserablie wreists the samine as if that gift had meaned that they should stand to the decisione(b) 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 24.
Caluinolatre ministers Repugning to the expres vord of God, thrauing and vraisting it at thair plesour c1590 Fowler II 61/15.
Thou dois … wraist the Scripteur of God in confirmation of that quhilk is not writtin 1630 Stirling's Royal Lett. II 426.
Ane act of Parliament … which he and his lawers labour to wraist for thair owne purpose(c) 1581 Acts III 221/2.
That na judge … to wry or wrist the samyn be thair ingyne or interpretatioun(d) 1643 Declaration Against the Crosse Petition 10.
The petitioners … doe very much wrest and mis-apply our Nationall Covenant a1680 Blair Autob. 45.
Places that were wrested against me

4. To wrast, wrest out. a. To seize (an idea, etc.) in a manner involving misinterpretation. Cf. 3 above. b. To obtain (information) by force. c. To misappropriate.a. c1590 Fowler II 13/24.
His propositions, quhilks are … impertinently brocht furth of the scripteurs or falsly wrastit out of the docteursb. 1593 Innes Rev. III 102.
Declaring all my depositiouns quhilk feir wrestit out to your lordships domage, and agains the trewthe to be fals and void of worthec. 1641 J. Maxwell Episcopacy not abjured 94.
The Regent … bent himself to wrest the church livings out of the noblemen's hands