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.
Quotation dates: 1567-1568
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Wirry hen, n. [? Wirry v. and Hyne n.] A ruffianly character, a rogue. Cf. worry-boggle, a rogue, and worry-carl, a term of abuse, in the later dial. (SND Worry v. 6.) — a1568 Peder Coffeis 41.
Ane dyvour coffe, that wirry hen, Distroyis the honor of our natioun
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"Wirry Hen n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/wirry_hen>
