A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1460-1599
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Ill-willy, a. Also: -willie, -villie, -wylly. [e.m.E. (once) ill-willie (Cotgrave), ME. (north midl.) ilwilly (once, 15th c.), otherwise only Sc.] Wishing evil to others; malevolent, malignant, evil disposed. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 278.
Wysdom enteris in na wy That frawart is and ill wylly c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 228.
Nor in a thravin hart and ill villie Sall neuir visdome enter c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 32 (B).
Be warme hartit and nocht illwillie [M. ewill-willie] 15.. Wyf of Auchtirmuchty 59.
By thair cumis ane ill-willy cow And brodit his buttok a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 3 b.
An ill willy kow should have short hornes
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"Ill-willy adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ill_willy>
