Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Waver, Wafer, v.¹ Also: wavir, -yre, vaver, vaifer. [ME and e.m.E. wayuer (Destr. Troy), waver (c1407), ON vafra to move unsteadily, cf. OE wæfre unsteady.]

I. 1. intr.To move indecisively unable or unwilling to choose a destination or without a particular destination in view, to wander. Also fig. and in fig. context.(a) 1375 Barb. vii 41.
The slouth-hund maid styntyn thar & waweryt [C. vaueryt] lang tyme to & fra That he na certane gate couth ga 1375 Barb. xiii 521.
Ane Inglis knycht throw cas Hapnyt that he ȝeid wawerand Swa that na man laid on him hand(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii 250.
As Sante Andro wauerand was, He com til a-nothir citte c1420 Wynt. v 2710.
The sarjandys … tuk wp barnys here and thare Quhare-evyr that thai waverand ware c1420 Wynt. v 3380 (C).
Julyane the apostata … fra lande to lande In habyt of monk was wauerande [R. vagand, W. wannand] 1460 Hay Alex. 15873.
As beistis here waveris in the are Sa in the sey the fische makis thare repare a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 148.
Be ferme of hed … Nocht oft in-to the stecte vaverand For vaveryng betakynnis vilsumnas a1500 Henr. Fab. 2161 (H).
The cadger, wauering as the wind Come rydand on the laid c1475 Wall. iv 283.
Mony rout Off wyld bestis wauerand in wode and playne a1500 K. Hart 277.
Grene Luif lay bund … Ȝouthheid wes lous and ay about waverand 1513 Doug. iii iii 98.
Forswiftit from our richt cowrs, gan we ar Amang the blynd wallis waverand far 1513 Doug. iv vii 4.
Dydo … Rollyng vmquhile hir eyn … With syght onstabil waverand our alquhar 1513 Doug. vi v 70.
Waverand and wandrand by this bankis syde a1568 Bann. MS 92b/64.
Ane iuge withowt intellectioun … hes no cognitioun Bot as ane blindman wauerand on the yse(c) a1400 Leg. S. xxv 287.
His fadyre … & his modir … cuth nothir cese na stynt To sek hyme bath fere & nere … Waferand fra place to placefig. 1567 G. Ball. 92.
Thocht I wauer [D. wander] or ga wyll a1568 Bann. MS 32a/10.
O faith deformit and gife it be faltles Quhy in thy deidis is sic diuersite As witles worme vauerand [pr. vanerand] in wrechitnes Pure of vertew riche in iniquite

b. To stray, wander fra (out of) the way, a person, etc. Also fig. 1456 Hay II 6/25.
He slepit apon his palfray, and waverit fra his folk out of the hye way 1531 Bell. Boece I 17.
That none of thame waver fra thair fallois 1599–1600 Aberd. B. Rec. II 204.
The said Thomas hes bene accusit of … wavering oftentymes fra his wyff, bairnis, and famelie 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 78.
Gif … all sweare that beast did waver away from him … and that he was not given, nor sauld be him to any man, in any maner of wayfig. c1420 Wynt. v 4332.
Huchowne … cunnand wes in literature He … Made in metyre mete his dyte, Lytill or nowcht nevyrtheles Waverand fra the suthfastnes 1456 Hay I 227/24.
A man wauerit [pr. wanerit] out of his wit … for the tyme that he is out of his wit, he suld nocht be haldin as inymy a1599 Rollock Wks. I 441.
We wer out of our richt wit, rebellis to God, wavering and vaging out of the richt way

2. To move erratically, totter, stagger. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 100/10.
He leuket as he culd lern tham a, Bot ay his ane futt did waver; He stackeret lyke ane strummall aver That hopschackellt war aboin the kne a1585 Polwart Flyt. 803 (T).
Knaif … Quhillis slaiverand, quhillis claverand and vaiferand [H. wavering] with vyne

3. fig.To vacillate; falter; change, vary. 1375 Barb. xii 185.
Mony ane hart sall wawerand [C. vaverand] be That semyt er off gret bounte c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. xiv 5 marg.
Lat him not wawer and doutt in his conscience Arundel MS 250/337.
Let me nocht wawer nor ar apoun erd, bot thou onlie tobe my … consolacioun a1570-86 Scott in Maitl. F. 297/112.
Women quhylis will wavir 1576 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 15 Nov.
Leist in the mein tyme thair ȝouth suld wauer and lois thair tyme without instructioun, thai eirnistlie reqestit … the said Mr. James to attend in thair schole quhill ane uthir maister myt be providit c1590 Fowler I 87/46.
Vulgar folk … Whose iudgement is ay wauering and to thair will inthrauld c1590 J. Stewart 65/15.
My versis vauers 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 129.
Over great wealth gars wit waver 1600 Crim. Trials II 232.
Their resolution may wauer 1600-1610 Melvill 6.
I was … tempted to haiff abandonet this ministerie … yit … I durst na wayes waver or mint away bot stand stedfast a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxii 56.
Waver not, lyk widdercok in wind 1611 Crim. Trials III 142.
Nocht grantand that the pairtie pannellit had maid ane leising … or waverit in his depositioun 1639 Spalding I 222.
Yit we now wnderstand that all … of these expressionis verball ar denyit, quhilk makis our hope to vaver

b. To wander in one's mind, to lose one's wits. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 789.
Cassandra fled wauerand as wod

c. tr.To cause to waver or vacillate, to render unsteady (in one's wits). c1420 Wynt. iii 798.
Thus in sege a sot to se, Or do a dowde in dignite, Sall ger standand statys stavire And wyll bath wyt and wyrschype wavir 1456 Hay I 227/16.
Nochtgaynstandand that he be wauerit [pr. wanerit] in his wit

II. 3. Of water: To flow with a wave-like motion, to surge.Perhaps f. or influenced by Waw v. 3. c1420 Wynt. i 399 (see Waw v. 3).
Waveryde [E. wawerit] c1420 Wynt. iv 1938.
As ryweris reche for rayne wyll rys And wavyre mare … Than wyll a … standand flude