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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Wild, Wyld(e, adj. Also: wilde, vild(e, vyld(e, uylde, wyild, vyild, wulde, we(i)ld, weyld, veild, wil(e, vil, will, wyl(e, wyll, wol, vayl(d. [ME and e.m.E. wilde (Orm), wild (Cursor M.), wyld(e, wuilde (all 14th c.), wield (1561), OE wilde.]

A. adj.1. Of an animal, bird, etc. a. Living in nature largely outside the constraints of human influence, not domesticated or tame. Freq. in contrast with Tam(e adj.Also absol.Also describing a representation of such an animal. Also fig. in wild-goose chace, an erratic or aberrant course.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 861.
Wild 1424 Acts II 4/2.
The bestis ar taxit on this maner the kowe [etc.] … the wilde meir [etc.] 14.. Acts I 385/2.
Off beis forsuth the natur is wild 14.. Acts I 386/2.
Of henis and ganeris the natur is nocht wilde … for thar is other hennis the quhilk thai call wild hennis therfor gif thi ganeris or thi hennis … fleis away al thocht thai pas out of thi sicht ner the les thai ar thin 1456 Hay I 102/29.
Naturaly ilke wilde beste and tame defend the self 1474 Acts II 107/2.
That … na … persone tak ane wther manis hundis nor haukis maide nor wilde out of nestis 1490 Irland Mir. I 136/30.
Consider, ladeis, the foulis and wild bestis tholis na grapin na twichin 1494 Loutfut MS 19a.
The vilde kow … is fundin in the land of Perse c1515 Asl. MS I 166/5.
In ane ile ar wild geis with twa hedis 1515 Reg. Privy S. I 405/2.
The Ile of Litill Comeray, [and] the dere, cunyngis and wild bestis being thairin 1531 Bell. Boece I xli.
The landwart peple puttis certane tame cursouris and meris amang thir wild hors, and be thair commixtioun … makis thaim so tame that thay may be handillit 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Verres, porcus noncastratus, a baire; aper, a wilde baire 1597 Melvill 430.
Gif hounders of sic knaves war tean and hangde, War in compear a wild-gus for a wran 1640 Black Bk. Taymouth 346.
To … subscryve sufficient inventars of the jewells … beir and … ky … and wild meires left to ws(b) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1037.
Vylde c1400 Troy-bk. i 248.
Thai woddys warnyst were In-to haboundance of wyld dere c1420 Wynt. i 393.
Into that schyppe [sc. Noah's Ark] all entryd are. Off byrde and best, bathe wylde and tame c1420 Wynt. i 547.
For bestys wylde batht fers and felle, Is nane of lywe that thar dar duelle 14.. Acts I 385/2.
Of wylde [L. fere] bestis foul and fysch and al other bestis the quhilkis ar born vnder hevin and thai be tan of ony man throw the law of men thai begyn to be his a1500 Henr. Fab. 1703.
All wyld beistis than [sc. in winter] from the bentis bair Drawis … vnto thair dennis 1492 Myll Spect. 286/14.
He … maid … the said Egestus to be drawn all in pecis with four wyld horsis c1500 Fyve Bestes 141.
To kepe … his faderis cornis Fra cokis, crawis, and vther foulis wyld 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 109.
The wyld geis … Attoure the citie fleand hard I glyde 1551 Hamilton Cat. 109.
Thair is na wyld best sa wyld … bot be the ingyne … of man thai may be dantit 15.. Clar. v 2325.
As two wyld boaris irouslie thay faught 1578 Glenartney Doc.
Be … hanting … within our said forrest scarris … the deir and wyld bestes 1596 Dalr. I 31/20.
Argyle … is full of hiche craigs … bot nocht vnmeit to feid hart and hyne, cattel and wyld beistes 1612 Conv. Burghs II 366.
That the said natioun sall haif liberty to … schoote … ony maner of fowlis or foure futtet wyld beists within the precincts of … Campheir(c) 1677 Thanes of Cawdor 336.
Veild geisse(d) a1538 Abell 55a.
Wolgeis a1578 Pitsc. I 337/4.
Wile guse, pertrick and plever 1599 Acts IV 180/2.
Wildeukis, teillis … or ony sic kynde of foullis 1599 Acts IV 181/1.
This act sall nawyis comprehend cvnnyng, wodcokis pleuiris nor wilgusabsol. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1512.
The lyoun … leuit on his pray And slew baith tayme and wyld 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4218.
The knicht … Hunting the wylde in forest with the tame 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 25.
Gleddis of nature killis not oft the uylde 1587-99 Hume 22/181.
All venneson, and vther wilde they serue him at his neid(2) 1695 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 250.
The … wyld man and wyld horse dollars(3) 1625 Scot Vox Vera 21.
Now you shall heare another bird of the same feather runne the wild-goose chace at councell and court, taking aime through a false looking glasse lately framed by a Scottish Separatist and steeled … at Leiden by an English Brownist

b. Chiefly of predators: Ferocious, liable to attack, threatening; furious, excited. Freq. wild bestis.There is considerable overlap with a above.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 652.
In the liyknes Of wilde bestis … He gert feyle feyndis thare apere To schot on hyr with fellone bere c1420 Wynt. v 173.
Off that cove … Twa gret dragownys and wgly Ruschyd owte … Bot thai twa wyld bestys kene Fra that thai the child had sene … Kest downe … Thare hedys a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 433.
Thou may not pas Mount Barnard for wilde bestis 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 129.
For tagging, grathing, and bukkilling of the wild bestis, xx s. 1549 Compl. 139/13.
Ȝe vald be mair cruel, nor the vyild beystis of the desertis of Arabie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1133.
Beistis wylde, Manesyng thame for tyll deuore a1578 Pitsc. I 109/28.
To be hangit or to be riwin with wyle beistis 1622-6 Bisset II 318/27.
These be they that war fed with angellis and become thameselfis fuid for wyld beistis … They turned the edge of the sworde They stopped the mouthis of the furious beistis(2) c1420 Wynt. i 1024 (W).
Than wild [R. waycht, C. waiche] and wod for thai meris Waxis thai capillis c1420 Wynt. v 4398.
Wolwys wylde [C. wulde, W. wyld] than werryd men a1500 Henr. Fab. 401.
Brutall beistis … ilk ane in thair kyndis naturall Hes mony diuers inclinatioun: The bair busteous, the volff, the wylde lyoun a1500 Henr. Fab. 878.
In that throne thair sat ane wild lyoun, In rob royall 1513 Doug. ix xii 15.
Lyke as ane rageand wild tygyr c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 236.
Meik in chalmer … Bot, in the field, ane campioun, Rampand lyke ane wyld Lyoun 1567 Sat. P. iii 179.
And sho ane bairne and I ane wylde wod bair c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxiii 10.
Moir feirsnes than the lyoun feirs and vyld

2. Of commodities, specif. foodstuffs and leather: Not cultivated, derived from a wild source. Also wild-gusted, tasting as if wild, gamey.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 280.
Wyld hony wes his lyflede c1500 Fyve Bestes 385.
Of wenysoun and wyld meit mak gud cheire 1506 Treas. Acc. III 191.
To ane servand … brocht vj wild geis 1506 Treas. Acc. III 348.
To ane man … brocht wild met to the king, vij s. 1512 Household Bk. Jas. IV 21a.
Item for a wilduk vi d. 1527–8 Ayrsh. Coll. 2 Ser. XI (1976) 99.
For 3 weldges send to Melros 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 9.
William Cawder has … coft certane pluveris and vther wild meit incontrare the said statutis 1542 Reg. Cupar A. II 203.
Weild 1549 Compl. 144/36.
There maist delegat refectione vas acquorns, vyild berreis [etc.] 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 95.
The wyld guyse of the gret bynd, ij s. 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II 184.
Na maner of persone … with wyldmete and tame foullis to sell … oney darrar wyld mete nor tame foullis bot of the prices following, viz.; … the best wyld guis [etc.] … the best wyld duik [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 286.
Sum siluer weschell, with habundance weyld meitt … passand to Dalkeith to the handfasting a1578 Pitsc. II 173 n.
He saw nevir sic ane brydill … for thair was … peirtrickis pleffaris … and all vthir kynd of dilicat wyld beistis 1626 Black Bk. Taymouth 318.
Vilgeiss(b) 1649 Sc. Lore I 274.
Ane vaylduick 1649 Sc. Lore I 275.
Ane vayldgoose(2) 1549 Stirling B. Rec. I 57.
That na marchand by calff skynnis … kyd skynnis nor wyld leddir 1559 Inverness Rec. I 35.
Wyld leddyr or … oder leddyr 1579 Exch. R. XX 315.
19 s. 6 d. of certain wyldledder skins 1580 Exch. R. XXI 6.
17 s. 6 d. of certain hides called wyld ledder 1581 Edinb. Test. IX 215.
xxxiij gray wyld skynnis 1605 Glasgow Chart. I i dcxiii.
It sall not be lesum to ane sempill burges … to by … ony wyld skynes … as todis not above fyve togidder, otteris not above thrie togidder and wther wyld skynis effeirand 1607 Dundee B. Laws 412.
That na maister sall sell ony almetscheip ledder for wyle ledder 1658 Brechin Test. VI 163.
Sewen pair of weyld leather glowes 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 86.
They export … wild leather and furres(3) ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1884) 58.
The flesche of thir sheipe … is verey wyld gusted

3. Of plants, etc.: Growing wild, not cultivated. a1500 Bk. Chess 1366.
Wyld wyne treis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 145/139.
Nor latt no wyld weid … Compair hir till the lilleis nobilnes 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 115.
In batill gyrs burgionys the banwart wild, The clavyr [etc.] 1549 Compl. 20/32.
Al the grond … is ouergane vitht gyrse ande vild scroggis a1550 Tayis Bank 43.
Brasit about with wyld wodbynd 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 73 (B).
Ane heklit hud maid of the wyld wode sege 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics i 120.
Intiba, intuba (wild cicorie) 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Eclogues vi 71.
Ornos, wyld asche 1587 Carmichael Etym. 4.
Pyraster, a wilde peare a1606 Dioscoridis Annot. Index.
Achras, wylde peare 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 8.
Oleaster, a wilde oliue tree

4. Of a place, forest, etc. a. Not in cultivation, in a state of nature; populated by wild beasts, hence, dangerous. b. Difficult to travel in, mountainous, barren; desolate. c. Of the sea: ? Desolate, featureless or ? violent, fearsome.a., b. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 191.
In-to that vyld & hole foreste, He passyt ay furth … For he trewyt that vyldirnes But haly men be na vay was a1400 Leg. S. xl 430.
Quhare now the corne is beste, That tyme wes [bot] wilde foreste a1500 Rauf C. 161.
Thow hes walkit, I wis in mony wyld land c1475 Wall. xi 673.
Throuch the wyld land he gydyt thaim full … To Ranouch hall a1500 Sir Eger 2332.
He saw neither rich nor poor, But moss and ling and bare wild moor 1513 Doug. xi vii 57 (Sm.).
On thir wyld holtis harsk … In faynt pastur doith thar beistis go 1549 Compl. 2/18.
The … sauuage volffis of strait montanis ande vyild forrestis(b) 1513 Doug. iv vi 61.
To nane onkouth landis thé list go, Nother to fremmyt place, nor stedis will [Sm. will, Ruddim. wyl; L. arva aliena domosque ignotas peteres] 1513 Doug. xi x 64.
By wentis strait and passage scharp and wyll [Ruddim. wil; L. per deserta iugo]c. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1547 (C).
He has … past Thrught the wyld sees [L. per maris equora] wauerandly, Whill he was commyn … to … Gerbyndya

5. Of persons. a. Ferocious, angry, mad, crazy, passing into b. Given to wild, energetic behaviour, unrestrained, out of control. c. transf.a. a1400 Leg. S. x 402.
Quhen it hapynnis ȝov to stand Be-fore the … kynge That sal gere felloun[l]y ȝov dynge & scla … Thare-for be ȝe of stedfast wil, Thocht wyld men wil ȝov do il c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 101.
Wan visaged widdefow, out of thy wit gane wyld c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 131/18.
Wyld haschbaldis 1535 Stewart 3672.
The lustie ladeis … Sum out of wit without ressone or ryme Tha war so wild wist nother of ill nor gude c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 298.
Maister Talbart said, ‘My gude chyld, It wer maist lyk that thow wer wyld; Thow ar to ȝoung' 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4592.
Corrupt blude, that mon be lattin out, And als wilde blude … but doutb. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 159.
Than wald scho preis bett me in angry wys … And I wald vp and wisk away full wyld 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 864.
The sext Erato, like thir louers wilde Will sing, daunce and leip baith vp and doun 1530 Conv. Burghs I 513.
Ordour … to be kepit for the weile and honour of this realme and how the multitude of wyle salaris may be repressit 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 99.
The pepill grew mair wylde vnder his empyre … and the realme brocht to sik miserye that thevis, revaris and all sik pepill wer maist … honourit 1567 G. Ball. 151.
Man was sa wylde and nyce And rageing in all vyce a1650 Row 304.
He was a vyld filthie bellie-god beastc. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 150/17 (B).
First of all in dance wes Pryd With bair wyld [M. collit] bak and bonet on syd

d. Fierce, warlike; savage, uncivilised. Also transf. Also applied to Robin Hood.There is some ambiguity with a above.(1) c1420 Wynt. iv 1820.
Peychtys wyld c1420 Wynt. vii 938.
Hys land … That … Rwyd and sympill all tyme wes, Bot lyk a blynd wyld hethynes c1475 Wall. i 146.
Scotland was … our set throuch with our ennemys wilde 1494 Loutfut MS 19b.
He that first bure it wes a wild man & rugh … and duelland in wild land 1513 Doug. iv i 89.
The wild pepil of Barchay 1531 Bell. Boece I liii.
In Norroway … thay saw … mony wild men … and … gat advertising be landwart peple that they wer doum beistis under the figure of men 1533 Boece 36b.
Twa pepill inhabit the ile, Scottis and the vthir wylde pepill 1533 Bell. Livy II 198/35.
The place and hichtis quhare thai duell has made thame sa enragit and wylde [L. efferarunt], that thai haue tynt all the langage of Ethruschis a1568 Gyre-carling 29.
The hennis … wald nocht lay For this wyld wilroun 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi 100.
Andro Bell, that wicked vyld outlaw a1578 Pitsc. I 352/23.
He had brocht the wyld hieland … to this stabilietie 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 10.
To secure the owner from the suddain commotions and assaults of the wild people of this cornertransf. 1533 Bell. Livy I 166/28.
The hare of his hede made his face elrage & wylde(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 99/25.
Was never wyld Robein under bewch … So bauld a berne as he

e. Applied to representations of savage or ferocious men, specif. in heraldry or pageants. c1450-2 Howlat 616 (A).
And als kepit ilk armes … The rouch Wodwys wyld that bastonnis bare Our growin grysly and growe grym 1507 Treas. Acc. III 258.
Clath of gold … to be tua half doublatis to [the] … allocayis to the wild knycht 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 365.
Gold to illummyn the articules send in France for the justing of the wild knycht for the blak lady 1507 Treas. Acc. III 386.
Gayt skinnis for the wildmen cotis 1566–7 Treas. Acc. XII 405.
Twenty aucht gaitt skynnis quhairof was maid four hieland wyld mens cleithingis 1570 Leslie 78.
This symmer … thair wes greit atturnementis and justinge in Edinburch be ane quha callit himself the wyld knycht

6. transf.a. Of states, behaviour, etc.: Unstable, crazy; angry; unrestrained, out of control; lacking guidance; ferocious, savage. b. Of noise: Unconstrained; ferocious, savage.a. 1456 Hay I 33/6.
Be caus of this divisioun, all the warld is in a wylde thocht, unstedefast a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 159 (Harl.).
I speke of cuvatice and parcialite For treuth and iustice ay will go wyld away Fra court and counsale quhill thir tua banist be 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 225.
From blys to wo … In brutell appetite fall, and wild dotage 1562-3 Winȝet II 65/12.
The wyild and sauage vnderstanding of hæretikis, quha … ryues in schundir the flok of Christe 1566 Cal. Sc. P. II 318.
Sa greytt ane multitude as I am assured detestis this wyild attempat a1578 Pitsc. I 104/2.
Then sa sune as the Earle of Crafurde wnderstud the Earle of Douglas obstinat and wilfull dissobedience for quhois quarrell he had fallin in sic mischeif he … tuik purpois to humbill him self and to come in ane wyld abullȝement to the king 1658 R. Moray Lett. 79.
For wild fancy I suppose I may be hench point high with yourself 1658 R. Moray Lett. 189.
This uses to make people peeuish a litle, but that onely produces wilde boutadesb. 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 108.
The nycht owle … hard I schowt and ȝowle … Vgsum to heir was hir wild elrich screke 1549 Compl. 39/28.
The herrons gaif ane vyild skrech

c. The wild aventouris, customs duty levied on goods imported, chiefly into Leith, by foreigners or unfreemen, appar. referring to these ventures as being outside the control of the burgh authorities.See 1482 Edinb. Chart. 168 for a description of the duty, etc., not, however, using this term. 1482 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 42.
The wild aventouris set to the said thesaurare for … xij^c and x markis 1496 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 70.
It is auisit … that quha sa takis the wyld auentouris sall do on this wyse [etc.] 1515 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 158.
Gif the toun haldis bot the mylnis or wyld aventouris [etc.] 1525 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 223.
Fermorar of … wyld aventouris of Leyth 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II 164.
That the chesing of the mettaris of all victuall and salt inbrocht to Leyth aucht to be be the counsale … and that the commoun mesouris sald be deliuerit to the fermorar of the wyld auenturis to be vsit be quhame he plesis assigne thairto 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II 167.
That quhat time ony … schippis arryvit at the port of Leyth ladynnit with gudis the samyn suld be enterit in thair bukis and the strangearis and vnfremen gudis … to be … writtin thairin … howbeit … the schip callit the Grewhound … arryvit at … Leyth … and the said William [sc. the ship's master] presentit … tham self to the customer of the wyld auenturis 1554 Haddington Treas. Acc. in E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 48.
The fermez of thair small custummis of the trone with anchorage wyld aventuris of thair hawin of Abirlady 1554 Prot. Bk. J. Robeson 62a.
Robert Grahame … collectour of the wild aventuris 1557 Edinb. Old Acc. I 234.
To Thomas Coke for his service and labores upone the gadering of the wyld awentores 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 45.
That Clement Edyear aucht to pay to the guid toun and thair fermorers of the wyld adventouris of Leyth, unfriemennis customes, nochtwithstanding [etc.]

B. adv.? Utterly, to a mad or crazy extent. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxx 22.
Gar thy justice be with reuth correctit For quyt away so wyld fra us is worne, And in folie we ar so fer infectit 1513 Doug. iv xii 44.
The noys ran wild out our the cite wallis, Smate all the town with … murnyng. Of greting [etc.] … The ruffis dyd resound, bray and rayr