A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Warbillis, Warbles, n. pl.2 [17th c. Eng. warbles a tumour caused by saddle pressure on a horse's back. Cf. MSw. varbulde a boil.] The swelling on the back of an animal produced by the larva of the warble fly. —a1605 Montg. Flyt. 314 (T).
All the plaigis that euir wes put In Pandorus poysonit purs … The mair, the migram … The warbillis [H. warbles], the wood-worme, that doggis of deis
