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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.

Whiggamaire, -amer, -emer, -imuir, Whigamore, -amyre, -imyre, n. Also: quhiggimoor, whigmuir. [? Whig v. and Mar(e n.² or Mere n.¹] An extreme Presbyterian, a Covenanter; specif. a participant in the Whiggamore Raid; a representation of such a person. b. attrib. Whiggamaire roade, the Whiggamore Raid of 1648 when the Covenanters of the South-west, opposed to the Engagement (Enga(d)gement n.), marched on Edinburgh.This derivation is only possible if, as is not unlikely, the word was in existence well before its first occurrence in the record applied to the participants in the Whiggamore Raid since the (presumed) shortened form was already evidenced in north. Eng. in c1645. Cf. EDD s.v. Whig n.¹See also Gordon Donaldson Scotland: James V-VII (The Edinburgh History of Scotland III (1965)), pp. 338-9 for further information.1661 (1703) Dismal Account of the Burning of our Solemn League and Covenant.
On the other side [of the arch] was placed the form of a Whiggimuir, having the Remonstrance in his hand 1662 Nugae Scoticae 31.
A quhiggimoor having the remonstrance in his hand … on the pillars beneath the remonstrance was drauen brechems, coges and spoons 1662 Wodrow Hist. I (1721) 151.
On the other side, there was another statue in a Whigmuir's habit, having the Remonstrance in his handb. 1654 Laing MSS 293.
As if … wee wer raysing a Whigamyre [Baillie III 568, Whigimyre] road under Argyle 1657 Balfour Ann. III 388.
Anent the Scotts last going into England, and the Englishe, with Cromwell and Lambert, ther heircoming at the Whiggamaire roade 1657 Balfour Ann. III 420.
Since Julij last, 1649, and the Whigamore road, the face of gouerniment being changed and put in other hands, and [etc.] 1662 Red Bk. Grandtully I cii.
They are to fyne such as haue been on the Whiggemer read a1686 Turner Mem. 68.
So soone as the news of our defeate [sc. of the Scots at Preston] came to Scotland, Argile and the kirks partie rose in armes everie mothers sonne; and this was called the Whiggamer rode