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

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Wod(e, adj. Also: vod(e, woid(e, void, woyd, woud(e, wold, wood(e, uood(e, wud(e, vud, wuid, wid, wyde, weid. [ME and e.m.E. wode (Orm), wod (c1220), wood (1398), would (Shakespeare), OE wód. Also in the later dial.]See Brainwod(e adj., Rede-wod adj. and Rin v.¹ 8 for further examples.

A. adj.1. Insane, mad, demented, esp. with implications of wild behaviour; crazy. Also proverb., cf. SND, s.v. Wuid adj. 5 (1). b. Crazy, demented on account of (for) some specific cause, chiefly, grief.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx 798.
Scho fand onhyd The falset that hyr-selwine dide & as scho saw that, but mare For wengeance scho ȝed wode thare & in wrak of hyr fals plicht Deit c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1143 (C).
For scho worthed wod wttrely; And in hyr wodnes … rane wauerand as desolate ?1438 Alex. ii 8147.
‘Thir folk ar wod [F. faés]!' said thay of Grece, ‘For we lufe ane full gude pece’ 14.. Acts I 381/2.
Tha that … has na hail mynde na vnderstanding and thai that are manifest wode [L. furiosi] all ther ar to be put away fra haly orderis 1438 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 265.
For quhy that I in my pure wodwit beande has [gap] confermyt a charter of pur sellyng of my landys of [etc.] … to Gilbert Meignes … and … gyff it sall happine … that I or my ayeris … mowe ony questioun plede or reuocatioun in ony degre of this selling … I oblyse me [etc.] … for to pay assitht … to the sayd Gilbert [etc.] 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 668.
Thow wickit catiue, wod and furious, Presumpteouslie … My lady heir blasphemit in thy rime c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 98/18.
Versis … Off ane wod [M. vod] fuill far owt off ressoun c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 12.
Sum said Christ had the dewill and is wode c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxvi 25.
I am nocht wod … bot I speke out the wordis of treuth and of sobirnes 1535 Stewart 12083.
Wemen wod, out of thair wit gane wyld 1535 Stewart 16106.
Wones wod and mad out of thair mynd c1575 Balfour Pract. 179.
Gif he be lunatique, wod and furious 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Insanus, vecors, wode 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 132.
Sum of thame … contractit ane seiknes, and deit; and the maist part ran wod a1599 Rollock Wks. I 434.
Thair is na man born in the eirth, bot he is born ane fuill, thou art born ane wod bodie, and by thyself(b) 1456 Hay I 226/30.
A witles man, that is to say wood, out of his wit c1590 Fowler I 325/2.
He was … Nor uood, nor mad 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 82b.
Woode 1627 Linlithgow B. Rec. 27 April.
The said Andro compeirand … confessit he was wood and kend not quhat he was doing c1630 Law Memor. Pref. lv.
She … made a gentleman's bairne that they had a-fostering run wood and die(c) a1568 Bannatyne MS 113b/36.
Sum in thair mude thay wold go wid(d) 1562-3 Winȝet II 23/14.
For quha is sa woud, quha … will nocht desyre to follow thame quhome [etc.](e) 1631 Dumbarton B. Rec. 37.
Margaret used mony injurious wordis of Janet Bukkanane calling hir a wud thief and a wud loonproverb. 1572 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxviii 101.
Slay or ȝe be slane … how can ȝe traist thame that trumpit ȝow ellis … ? And thay may anis se thair time, tent to ȝoursellis … Anis wod and ay the war, … mak thame fast in the ruit gif thay cum to a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 60.
Anes wood, never wise a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 147.
Anes wod and ay the war 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i i 7 (1678) 17.
Our proverb well observes, once wood, ay the worseb. 1456 Hay I 53/29.
The quhilk quhen the folk of Cartage herd thai worth wode for dule and dises a1500 Golagros and Gawane 972.
Schir Wawane writhit for wa, Witlese and woud a1500 King Hart 416.
Dame Chastite … For wo ȝeid wode and flaw out our the wall 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6747.
Quhen the emprice of their tythance hard tell Scho … As ane wod wife come to the Empreour Behald (said scho) ane woman of dolour 1596 Dalr. I 64/9.
Valiantlie … thair vse thay [sc. Orcadians] to drinke bot few … thair sie we drunkne or vnable to rule thame selfes … nathir ony thair wod or daft, as sum wil

c. As (lykas) thai, etc. war, etc. wod (of wit), as … wod creaturis, as if demented; in a wild, frenzied or furious fashion; like mad things.(a) 1375 Barb. xvii 106.
Thai ran rycht as thai war woud [C. woude] And sesyt howsis and slew men a1400 Legends of the Saints ii 126.
Quhene Nero that has hard, As wod of wit nere he ferd c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2129.
Diomeid, seand … Assandrus … deid, As wod out of his wit … Gan rusche in-to the thikkest pres ?1438 Alex. i 2401.
Ȝon proud king wenes … To ding vs all to deid … He fairis as he war fule or wode [F. fols ou dervés] a1500 Henr. Fab. 488.
As scho wer woid with mony ȝell and cry Ryuand hir [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 1110.
To wyn this warld, sum wirkis as thay wer wod a1500 Peblis to Play 124.
He stert till ane broggit stauf Wincheand as he war woode a1500 King Hart 175.
Syn to hir castell raid as scho war woude [: mude, stude, ȝuid] a1500 King Hart 224.
Woude [: lowde] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 71/15.
Wud [M. vud] 1513 Doug. ii xii 22.
Invane I callit … But owder rest or resson, as I war woyd 1531 Bell. Boece I 186.
The residew … come … on the kingis army, as rammist and wod creaturis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1733.
Syne ȝoull and cry as he wald quyte rin wode a1578 Pitsc. I 21/7.
With ane iyrefull countinance lykas he haid beine wood c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiv 67.
Thy tuik thair lust, as thai wor wod 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 53.
They wig'd state, as they were wood, To [etc.](b) a1540 Freiris Berw. 352 (M).
He girnit he glourit he gapit as he war weid

d. Nere(hand), almost wod, wel nere of wit as wod, almost out of one's mind with (for) some emotion, freq. anger; utterly enraged.1375 Barb. xx 493.
Sum … Ȝeid weill ner woud [C. wood] for dule & wa a1400 Legends of the Saints x 443.
The clergy … gat be-for tham that ware wrathe & sobryt tham that nere woud wes Vith softnes a1400 Legends of the Saints xix 348.
Wel nere of wit as wod he ferd ?1438 Alex. ii 6028.
Floridas for pure dispyte Ȝeid neir-hand wode c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vi 418.
King Eduuard … In propyr ire he wox ner wode for teyne 15.. Clariodus v 2339.
Sir Leonard for ire almost grew wode

2. Rash, reckless, furious, esp. in battle; wild, savage in behaviour.1460 Hay Alex. 2540.
The ȝoung ay ar rycht rasche … Quhan-euir thai se thair fais thai are wode, And … followis in thair birnand will But wyse consell a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 3332.
Thar is o knycht That … Wencussith all, that thar may non susten His strokis thai ar so fureows and ken He farith as o lyone or o beyre, Wod in his rag 1513 Doug. xii v 148.
The Troianys and the Tuscanys wraith and woid 1533 Bell. Livy I 106/9.
It was traistit that Tullia was the doare of this cruelte becaus scho abhorrit nocht with vther siclike cruelteis … Followis ane schamefull and vnnaturall cruelte … This wod & waryit woman … draif the chariot oure hir faderis body 1533 Bell. Livy II 182/34.
It was na mervel thocht the ciete ȝede wod [L. furere] 1535 Stewart 32926.
Wod as ane wolf, and het as ony fyre, Ouir all the streittis of the toun tha ran 15.. Clariodus i 5.
Lyke God of armis Mars armipotent, Wode, burning, full of courage … Sir Clariodus 1575 Glasgow B. Rec. I 457.
To Malcolm Hammiltoun, for scurgeing of ane wod hussy throw the toune, v s. 1596 Dalr. I 144/17
King Durst weil gottin … and in al pointes weil brocht vpe … Nochtwithstandeng … put doune throuch craft & disceit al the noble men quha resisted his intentiones. … this wod and monstruous man 1596 Dalr. I 344/16.
In quhilk victorie thay war sa cruell, ferce, wod, and wilde, that [etc.] 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 49/13.
The incredible strength of the possessed creature, which will farre exceede the strength of six of the wightest and wodest of any other men that are not so troubled 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 30.
Thirty ‘gainst thirty match’d … Like furious Ajax, or Orestes wood

b. Furious, angry, enraged.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxviii 453.
The emperoure herd … Hou the matron[is] had done, & was ware na woud ?1438 Alex. ii 8032.
Quha-euir was wraith or quha war weid [F. qui qu'en doie peser] c1420 Wynt. viii 925.
Thai ordanyd to the Brows the crown At that he made hym wode [and] wrath a1500 Prestis of Peblis 235 (A).
With ony wald he be baith wod & wraith Quha at him sperit how sald he the claith 1531 Bell. Boece I 40.
Nathak answerit … in his wod fury, that he was king 1569 Cal. Sc. P. II 727.
As for the rest: he is wood when he hearith of Ledinton 1573 Davidson in Satirical Poems xl 356.
Thay sall not haue the power ȝow to deir, Albeit thay rage an rin wod in thair ire a1578 Pitsc. I 146/31.
To quhome scho turnit about witht ane wode and furieous contienance 1596 Dalr. II 1/6.
Quhen thir newis cam to the king of Inglands eiris, throuch furious ire he began in a maner to rinn wod a1651 Calderwood II 342.
He goeth wood when Lethington is named 1668 Misc. Hist. Soc. VI 161.
The Earl of Cassillis hath put me wood by a snivling letter

c. To be wod for something, to be eager, keen, mad for it.1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 91.
Since for the Covenant none [was] more wood, To make three nations swim in blood

3. Lacking sense, foolish, stupid.Some examples may belong in 1 or 2 above.a1400 Legends of the Saints ii 255.
The baser sad schow wes vode That lente to hym a clath sa gud a1400 Legends of the Saints vii 212.
Are ȝe woude? Cese of ȝour foly! a1500 Henr. Fab. 591.
This cok weill may we call Nyse proud men, woid and vaneglorious c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 294.
As wis woman ay I wrought and not as wod fule, For mar with wylis I wan na wichtnes of handis 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 286.
Ȝe sulde nocht chuse vnto that cure Ane vinolent nor wod pasture, No sleprie hird, nor errogant, Bot prudent, wyse, and vigelant a1578 Pitsc. II 136/2.
I marwell of ȝour wisdomes ȝe foollis and wode hiepocreitis a1599 Rollock Wks. I 346.
See ȝe not heir the cair quhilk we suld have of the glorie of God … It suld cause … Paull … to be content to be countit ane fuill in this warld that God may be glorified … Gif God be glorifyit in my wodnesse, quhat regaird I to be wod?

4. Of an animal: Fierce, savage; wild, not tame. b. Wild or savage for some particular reason. c. Of a dog: Enraged. d. Of a dog: Wild, savage or mad, rabid. e. To rin wod, to go mad; to become wild or savage.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xliii 102.
As a woud lyone c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x 809.
A gret rede saile thai se Into thar top the leopardis standand hye … Than Wallace said … Ȝon wood cattis sall do ws litill der a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 251.
Wod werwoif … Put I nocht sylence to thé, schiphird knaif 1513 Doug. x ix 8.
As wod lyon, ruschit he in the fight 1535 Stewart 29500.
He … With ane wod wolf wes bettin 15.. Clariodus iii 1116.
So fairis he as ane tyger woode 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 4008.
Ane wod wilcat 1567 Satirical Poems iii 179.
War … sho ane bairne and I ane wylde wod bair a1568 Bannatyne MS 22a/18.
Latt not the wude infernall cokatrice Fra thé ws tyse a1578 Pitsc. II 96/5.
Bot lyk woode brutte beistis schew thame selffis the men thai war that day c1650 Spalding I 289.
Then Monro sayes ‘Ane wod bull may go throw yow all’(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxix 426.
He … saw a wold wolf [L. concitus] hym tab. c1420 Wynt. i 1035.
Swa waycht and wod [C. woid, W. wild and wod for thai meris Waxis thai capillis] than ar thai hors That … Fra tha capylis … The kynd ethchapys … [it] raykys the revar our [etc.] c1420 Wynt. iv 2090, 2095.
The erde clave … And alkyne best [W. alkyne tame best] … Left thare stablys … And yhelland ran as thai ware wude [: fude] Tyll woddys [etc.] … And hundys … Ran wud [C. woide, W. wild] as wolwys c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix 1452.
Thai … As wood bestis amang the fyr than gays 15.. Clariodus i 971.
He [sc. a lion] lape upone him in ane rage, all woode, For he that day had gottine no bluidec. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1794.
The grewhound than persauing his awin blude Into his hart wor sa cruell and wode, With ane fell faird vpon the serpent rand. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 5522.
O cative Quene … Wyld rauins sall ryfe thy beif, wod dogis thy banis sal gnaw 1562-3 Winȝet II 38/29.
Thir thingis sua Nestorius [etc.] … as woud doigis, barkis contrare the catholik fayth 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 9.
Frequent wod doggis … is signe of vodnes a1585 Polwart Flyt. 724 (H).
Wood tyk, hoodpyk [etc.] 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 91.
The wildbair … Into ane furie he ran fast, … Also the wood dog did sicklike 1627 Aberd. B. Rec. III 18.
Thair is great harme … sustenit … by the byitting of wod doggis 1637 Johnston Diary I 271.
The Lord, haiving … entred me in my calling, might nou interrupt my hoopes and ryve them asunder as the wood dog raive the instrumental mean thairof—my acts of parliament 1733 Culross II 103.
There has been some wood dogs going through the towne. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 57/33.
Ther is ane sterne callit Canis … quhen it ringis in our hemispere, than dogis ar in dangeir to ryn vod 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 232/30.
Thair oxin ran wod and brak thair nekis 1608 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 60
Scho [sc. a mare] ran woid and drouneit hirself 1615 Elgin Rec. II 143.
His cat and his dog ran wood 1623 Criminal Trials III 556.
Taking the seiknes af hir and puting it vpone ane kow quhilk kow thaireftir ran woid

5. With non-material subject. a. Of a state, appearance, emotion, event, etc.: Exhibiting madness or rage, crazy, without reason. Also, to rin wood. b. Of pain: Maddening, giving rise to rage or madness.a. 1460 Hay Alex. 550.
Sa wode ane luke and sa glourand haid he c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x 396.
The pytuous payn so sor thyrllyt his thocht, All out off kynd it alteryt his curage; Hys wyt in wer was than bot a wod rage a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 486 (Asl.).
Syn makis a man fulische and furious In his wod rage rynnand but resoun a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 673.
O wod blindnes, the quhilk that blind so maid The Jowis ene 1513 Doug. iii iv 19.
Wod hungyr and gredy appetite 1562-3 Winȝet II 36/3.
He confoundit the woud, fals allegeance of Porphirius 1562-3 Winȝet II 51/30 (see Wode woman n.). a1568 Scott xxxi 48.
Ȝe luvaris se Gife that this be Ane lyfe that all gude men malingis … It is to fle Aboif the pest … Quhilk is bot curius Ay woid and furius, And fyre sulfurius a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitland Folio MS 56/46.
Wode folie is haldin hardines a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xl 57.
Let weirds rin wod 1622-6 Bisset I 58/31.
Makbeth turned fra all meiknes … beand led be wod furyis, as the nature of all tirannis ar(b) 1573 Davidson in Satirical Poems xlii 395.
The courteour with wordis wyde Said ‘I heir nathing bot … get now that and get now this'b. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 39/22.
My wod intollerabill pane

6. Of warfare, etc.: Furious, fierce.a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 2695.
The batell furyous and woid Of armyt knychtis 1513 Doug. ii viii 6.
Sa wod ondantit melle thar we se 1533 Bell. Livy II 97/34.
This … buschement … ruschit … with phanatik and wod cours on thare inemyis 15.. Clariodus i 989.
Hard was the batell, asper, woode and fell

7. Of the elements, weather, sea, etc.: Fierce, wild. Freq. in Doug. const. as it was wod.a1400 Legends of the Saints iii 283.
The sey wox sa woud, That thai war drownyt c1400 Troy-bk. i 115.
Contrare wynd & wedderis wod c1400 Troy-bk. i 427.
Scho wald rase wedderis one thame thare So wod with wykked wyndis blast c1420 Wynt. i 238 (C).
The tane to sauf be fra the flude, The tother fra fyre, thocht it war wod c1420 Wynt. iv 1963 (C).
Wawis woide c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii 512.
Nocht was lewyt mar Bot the woode fyr a1500 King Hart 75.
About the wall thair ran ane water void c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 174/18.
Januar … wod and kene 1513 Doug. i iii 26.
The stour vp bullyrrit sand as it war wode [Sm. wuid] 1513 Doug. ii viii 102.
The fomy ryver or flude Brekkis our the bankis on spait quhen it is wode 1513 Doug. xi xii 64.
Lyke as the flowand sey with fludis rude Now ruschis to the land, as it war woyd 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 45.
Bulryng stremis wode c1550 Rolland Court of Venus Prol. 53
As the lyon, the fyre is furious, wod, and cruell

B. absol. as noun. A mad person, a lunatic.a1605 Birrel Diary 16.
Tourane Murray … was shot … be ane vode Andrew Murray

C. adv.a. Madly, ferociously, furiously; utterly. Modifying an adj. or ppl. adj. b. Uoode headit, having a mad, savage or ferocious attitude.a. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 770.
Golograse … Wod wraith as the wynd, his handis can wryng 1513 Doug. iv v 56.
This ilke kyng, wod wroith, half owt of mynd And for thir schrewyt rumouris sor ammovit 1513 Doug. viii xii 66.
Amyd the feld stude Mars, … In plait and mail, wod brym and ful of ire 1513 Doug. x xiii 18.
The pail furour of Tysiphone Walkis wod wroth amydwart the melle 1513 Doug. xii v 140.
Wod wraith for wo, sum hyntis swerdis owt, … And in thar blynd fury … Ruschit on thar fays 1540 Lynd. Sat. 138, 139.
Na, he is wod drunkin, I trow, Se ȝe not that he is wod fow? a1585 Polwart Flyt. 731 (H).
Verie vyld, defyld, ay woodwyld 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 115.
The wife was wood angryb. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 135/198.
The bull uoode headit & the horse quhose courage cannot folde