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.
Wid(d)ill, v. Also: widdle, wuddle. Pres. p. wydlan. P.t. widlit. [?] a. tr.To curse. b. intr.To utter curses, to swear. c. tr.To cause to go astray, to beguile.a. 1535 Stewart 45199.
Paip Innocens of his auctoritie … concludit than hes he … To curs and widdill, warie and condame, Bayth ill and gude … That enimie wes to … King Johnne 1551 Hamilton Cat. 63 (see Wary v. 1 a).
Thai that sweris ane lesing, mainsueris thame self, wariis bannis and widdillis thair saule a1568 Bann. MS 136b/29.
This wyld wilroun wich thame widlit sa & wareit a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 236 (W).
Like Dido, Cupido I widill and I warye, Quha left me, and reft me 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xvii 3/85.
Rome with her filthie stinking puddle (For which I still her anathem and wuddle)b. 1565 Inverness Rec. I 129.
Scho cumand fra the Brigend bannan and wydlan as plesit hyrc. a1689 Cleland 80.
It's Antichrist his pipes and fidles, And other tools, wherewith he widdles, Poor caitiffs into dark delusions
