Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

(Wawill,) Wavel, v. Pres. p. wawl-, waul-, wailland, wavell-, vavel-, weavling. [Frequentative of Waw v. Also in the later dial.] intr.To move with a rolling, waving motion; to roll, wave. b. tr.To roll (the eyes); to move (the mouth). a1500 Henr. Fab. 469 (Ch.).
The cok … Vnwarlie winkand, wawland [Arund. wailland, Bann. walkit] up and down 1513 Doug. viii vii 154.
Gorgones hed … With eyn wawland [Sm., Ruddim. wauland] and nek bane hak in sondyr 15.. Clar. iii 774.
Hir bricht hairis wyde wavelling out of lace c1650 Spalding I 274.
Haveing blew bonnetis on thair heidis, with fedderis vaveling in the wynd a1689 Cleland 107.
He making hands and gown and sleives wavel, Half singing vents this reavel ravelb. c1500 Makc. MS iv 27.
Out throw thi harnis the pykis of thorne apliit Wawland thi ene [Arund. Wailland thi ene; B. Defowling thy ene] 1654 Johnston Diary II 277.
Folks observing in the kirk … my wagging my head and weavling my mouth in the singing