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.
Wilsum, -som(e, adj. (n.). Also: vilsum, wildsum, -some, wil(d)esome, (wilsoun), wyl(d)sum, vylsum, weilsum, wolsome, volsum. [ME and e.m.E. wilsum (c1350), wilsom (Trevisa), wylsum (14th c.), welsome (a1400), wildsome (1578), ON villusamr erroneous, false.] a. Of a way (lit. or fig.), route, place or journey: Treacherous; apt to lead one or go astray; remote, desolate; dreary. Also transf.b. lit. and fig.Of a person: Wandering, erring, astray; perplexed, bewildered. Also transf.c. absol. as noun. A wandering or homeless person.a. 1460 Hay Alex. 10013.
Forese perrell … That thow fall nocht in wayis that ar wilsum For lichtlyare hurtis the thing that ar forsene a1500 Henr. Orph. 245.
To seke his wyf … our mony wilsum [A. wilsom] wane Wyth-outyn gyde a1497, 15.. Gray MS vi 6.
Thow mon wend Oute of this warld a wilsome way 1513 Doug. v xi 56.
Samony seys and alkyn landis Sa huge wilsum [Ruddim. wylsum] rolkis and schawd sandis 1513 Doug. vi ii 113.
Al the myd way is wildirnes onplayn, Or wilsum [Sm. vilsum] forest 1513 Doug. ix vii 50.
This ilk wilsum perplexit way 1531 Bell. Boece I 44.
The Pichtis … come, be mony wilsome and difficil gaitis, to Orknay 1531 Bell. Boece I 123.
Efter that thay had bene lang travellit on the wilsum sees 1533 Boece 132b.
Tending to seik new habitacioun be mony wilsum and strange salingis c1590 J. Stewart 144/8.
Als monie vayis … As vilsum vas in laborinthe of Creit 1595 Davidson Three Reformers 126.
She raid that wilsome wearie way, Neir fourtie myles 1602 Colville Paraenese 129.
As … signs set up in vilsum vayis to direct vs in the rycht pathe 1632 Lithgow Trav. (1614) Sig. L 2.
If it had not been for a Christian Amaronite who accidently encountred with vs in our wilsum [1632 190, wilesome] wandring wee had beene miserably lost(b) 1562-3 Winȝet I 9/5.
Sen ȝe … in the wyldsum way of this daingerous lyfe chesit ȝour selfis sa blynd gydis 1562-3 Winȝet I 55/33.
Desyrus … to hef reduceit … the wildsum wandering vnto the richt way agane 1604-31 Craig i 32.
Through wildsome wayles wayes, & foraine fells they fare 1604-31 Craig i 39.
Wildesometransf. c1460 Consail Vys Man 336.
Forse a perell ore it cum For sudane cas is ay vylsum, And lichtlear hurtis that is fore-sen c1610 Melville Mem. 269.
That wilsome nycht, when gret cauld wes thairoutb. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 19.
I … call To ȝow Cleo … In this processe my wilsum wittis gye And with ȝour bryght lanternis [etc.] c1450-2 Howlat 43 (A).
Wa is me, wretche in this warld, wilsome of wane a1497, 15.. Gray MS vi 41.
Women and mony wilsome wy As wynd or wattir ar gane west c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 5/35.
Haile, gentill nychttingale; Way stricht, cler dicht, to wilsome wicht, That irke bene in travale 1513 Doug. i xi 124.
The sevynt symmyr hyddir careis thé Wilsum and errant, throu euery land and see 1513 Doug. iii iii 105.
Apon sik wys oncertanly we went Thre days wilsum throu the mysty streym 1533 Bell. Livy I 114/28.
Force was to him to pas wilsum throw all Italie c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 526.
Scho alone wilsum of ane gude reid 1554 Knox III 347.
God sall gyd the futstepis of him that is wilsome a1570-86 Maitl. F. 241/35.
I am maist wilsum of wane Within this warld wyde(b) 1535 Stewart 43912.
Gilcrist … Werie forwrocht, and richt weilsum of wane(c) c1590 J. Stewart 35/198.
Vandring as ane volsum vagaboundtransf. a1500 Henr. Fab. 311 (A).
Till hir hart straike mony wilsome [Bann. wofull] stoundc. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 16/29.
The hungry, meit, nor thristy, drink I gaif … Herbreit the wilsum [B. wolsome, M. wilsoun] nor nakit cled
