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: 1420, 1499-1513, 1575-1626
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Wra(i)kful(l, adj. Also: wrackfull, wreakfull. [ME and e.m.E. wrakefull (a1300), wrakful (14th c.), wreakefull (1531), wrekeful (Thynne), wreckfull (1557).] a. Vengeful, vindictive; harsh, cruel. b. Disastrous; damaging, destructive.a. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 329.
Cruell Saturne … Hard is thy dome and to malitious … Ane wraikfull [Thynne wrekeful] sentence geuin on fair Cresseid 1513 Doug. vi iv 78.
Befor the … iawys of hell, Lamentatioun and wraikfull [Ruddim. wraikful; L. ultrices] Thochtis fell Thar lugyng had 1575 Milne-Home MSS 241.
The nameis of the troublaris of me … ar sa notoure that thay mister nocht … be mentionat … bot thair wraikfull deidis to me … will beir recoird of thair evill will c1590 Fowler I 384/185.
Thatredes wreakfull brethernb. c1420 Wynt. iv 1895 (W).
The thrid batall wrakfull [R., C. Punyk] heire Takis end 1600-1610 Melvill 372.
That accursed wrakfull day c1610 Melville Mem. 220.
The false practyses, and wrakful fetches of sic as had learnit the regent to discemble 1622-6 Bisset I 22/2.
A monument That all the spyte of wraikfull tyme out faces 1626 Garden Worthies 39.
Thy manie marks … Got in our wrackfull & invasive warrs
