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: 1513-1623
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Worsum, n. Also: -am, wors(s)ome, vorssum, uorsum, woursum, woor-, wirsome, wirsum, wersun. [ME wirsenn (Orm), wirsum (Ancr. R.), worsum (Cursor M.), OE worsm, wursm metath. f. worms, wurms.] Pus, suppurating matter. Freq. in collocation with bluid. b. attrib.Suppurating.(a) 1513 Doug. iii ix 64.
Thir wrachit mennys flesch, that is hys fude, And drynkis worsum [Ruddim. woursum], and thar lappyrrit blude 1513 Doug. viii viii 71.
Worsum and filth [L. sanie taboque] laithly to se 1533 Boece 330a.
Fra leggis, fete, and neris … sprang the attry worsum 1540 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 226.
I and Jok Youll slew ane of thir ky thairefter and I fand yousterit blud and vorssum one hir fillattis hanchbanes and meikill youskerit blud and vorssum abone hir hudder 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics iii 485.
Morbo, in tabum (worsome) 1579 Despauter (1579).
Pus, worsome 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 165/487.
Thay … beare many a blybe of uorsum [1591 worssome] that doth breid 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Pus, sanies, worsum of a byle 1610 Criminal Trials III 95.
Worsam 1613 P. Forbes Comm. Rev. iv 15.
It is not mixed with bloud … much lesse with bloudy worsum 1617 Despauter (1617) 75.
Tabes, rotten or putrified blood and worsome(b) 1533 Boece 513a.
Fra the tane e flowit woursum contynualie 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Sanies, corruptus sanguis, woorsome(c) a1605 Montg. Flyt. 337 (T).
The wirsome, the wraittis, not wormis be thow wantane 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 93.
Thow … keist witchecraft on the said cow, … that scho gewe no milk, bot, with pardoun of your honoris, lyk wirsum or wenem(d) 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 86.
The milk … ves bot lyk wersun and bludb. a1599 Rollock Wks. I 444.
It is ane sure takin of His love towardis thee … that He hes not skunnerit … at thy worsum bylis, and botchis
