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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

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.