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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

WHILOM, adv., adj., conj. Also with adv. gen. ending after Whiles, whil(e)oms.

I. adv. Sometimes, at times; formerly, at an earlier time, previously, aforetime. Now only liter.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 14:
Whiloms they tented, an' sometimes they plaid.Sc. 1827 Scott Journal (1950) 320:
Dined at Lord [Medwyn's], John Forbes whileoms.Ags. 1901 W. J. Milne Reminiscences 289:
The sichts whilom seen, dancin' roond that whin steen.Edb. 1959 A Sang at Least 27:
Adam . . . tined us Eden's boure, And the hain'd gift whileoms o sempillness.Gsw. 1964 George Friel The Boy who Wanted Peace (1985) 190:
"Odd," said the manager, whilom Major in the Army Catering Corps in the second World War.

II. adj. Former, one-time. Orig. and still chiefly Sc., phs. thought of as a variant of Umquhile.Sc. 1837 Carlyle French Rev. III. v. iii.:
General Doppet, a whilom Medical man.

III. conj. While, at the period of time when. Obs. exc. dial. in Eng. Liter.Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 146:
I'm the Genius of this linn, And now have stilled the water's din That I might speak whilom you're near.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i iii.:
A' thae maisters and dominies wham ye kent weel, whilom they war still leevin'.