A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wail(l, Wale, v. Also: vaill, wayle, vayle, wawill, vale, well. [ME and e.m.E. waile(n (c1330), wayle(n, weile(n (both Piers Plowman), waille (Lydgate), weale (1554-9), wail (1671), ON *veila, vǽla. Cf. Bewail v.]
1. intr.To lament, utter cries of sorrow or grief, freq. in collocation with Wep(e v.(a) a1497, 15.. Gray MS v 19.
Quhen wa ar deid … Quhat helpis than to wawill or weip? c1500 Interl. Droich 115.
My name is welth thairfoir be blyth … Suppois wrechis will waill & wryth, All darth I sall gar die c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark v 38.
Men wepand and wailand(b) 1513 Doug. iii v 61.
With that word scho bryst furth mony a teir, And walit so that piete was to heir 1513 Doug. iv vii 15.
Quhiddir gif he murnyt quhen we wepit and walyt? 1513 Doug. xi iv 25.
Evander … plenand on wofull maner, … Wepand and waland as his hart wald breke a1568 Gyre-carling 6.
For luve of hir lawchand lippis he walit and he weipit 1604-31 Craig ii 62.
How I or'edriue in deadly dooll the day, And how this longsome equinoct I vale(c) 1461 Liber Plusc. I 384.
Thocht all this warld suld well in wo and weid
2. tr.To mourn ((the loss of) something).a1570-86 Maitl. F. 448/13.
We that hime wantis mey vaill his daith c1590 Fowler I 176/7.
I will my langour and my losses vayle [Hawthornden wayle] c1590 Fowler I 242/58.
Petrarcha Laure did never so lament Nor Pyramus his precious Thisbe waill c1590 Fowler I 255/12.
A louing mother … Who wailles her lose with mone and dullfull cheir
