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.
(Wastnes,) Waistnes, n. [ME and e.m.E. wastnesse (Wyclif), waistnesse (1535).] A wilderness, an uninhabited area. —1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 68.
Was not that desolate waistnes [L. illa deserta vastitas], that unhantit place, abill of itself to put simpill men in feir?
