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

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About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1513, 1565-1693

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Rigwiddie, -widdé, n. and adj. Also: -widdy, -wyddie, -uidie; -wod(d)é, -wodie; -woodie, -woidie; (ringwoodie). [Sc. form of north. ME rygwythi, rigwethy (1419–20); Rig n. 1 and widdy.]

A. noun. A rope or band running across the back of a draught-horse and secured to the shafts of the cart or carriage to be drawn, a back-band.(a) 1513 Treasurer's Accounts IV 514.
For xxiiij stane of towis to be thetis, soumes and rigwiddeis
1565 Rec. Privy C. I 403.
To furneis with all necessaris the said artailyearie viz. of cabillis, sowmis, theittis [pr. cheittis], rigwiddeis [etc.]
1585 Elphinstone Mun. 193/1.
Fyve haling towis and sex rigwiddeis
1595 Criminal Trials I ii 353.
The said Mr. Johnne … cuttit his plewis and rigwiddeis
1596–7 Edinb. B. Rec. V 178.
For cutting the rig wyddie of William Mcmaths cairt
1663 Donaldson Cramondiana 39.
To ane dozen rigwiddies to him, 6 s. 8 d.
1693 Edinburgh Testaments LXXX 2.
Tuo cairts saidells and tuo rone riguidies
(b) 1616 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 4.
Rigwodeis
1616 Ib. 52.
Rigwoddeis
1616 Ib. 53.
Takell to be traces and rigwoddeis to the cairt hors
1625 Edinburgh Testaments LIII 114.
Ane irne rigwodie and ane pair ear ledderis

B. attrib., as adj. Only, dyslogistically, in collocation with witch.So too in the earliest example (1698) quoted by SND, s.v. Rigwiddie adj.? = ‘wizened and gnarled; tough and rugged-looking; ill-shaped’ (SND), but in early use perh. less specific ? = ill-favoured.1648 Dumfries Kirk S. 20 March.
The bill of slander … against Jonet McKie in calling the said Jonet rigwoodie witch
1654 Ib. 5 July.
Margaret callit the supplicant a turner of ridles, a rigwiddy witch
1664 Gunn Cross Kirk, Peebles 190.
That the man's wife called Janet a ringwoodie witch
1688 Peebles B. Rec. II 125.
For scandalizeing her and calling her unsonsy loun and rigwoidie witch

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