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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Modewarp, -wart, Mowdewart, n. Also: modi-, mody-, mowdi-, mowdy-, moude-, moudi-, mol(l)deand -warpe, -vart, -wort, -wert; modiwark, moodiwarpt, modwart and Malwart. [ME. and e.m.E. mold(e)warp(e (c 1325), -werp, mouldwarp (1597), moldywarp (14–15th c.), mowdywarp (1577), moodiewart (1598), also molworp (14–15th c.), -warppe, moulwarpe, and e.m.E. (north.) molwart (1570), repr. OE. *moldweorp = MLG. moldewerp, molwerp, MSw. mold-, mol-, mulvarper, -värpil etc., Norw. moldvarp, etc.]

1. A mole, the small burrowing animal.(a) 1494 Loutfut MS. 17 a.
The modewarp is a blind best haffand a gronȝe in form of a porc euer beand vorceland in the erd 15.. Bk. Dean Lismore 89.
Ane modewarp Kirkwood Grammar (1676) s.v.
Talpa, a mole or moodiwarpt(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 915 (Bann.).
The mermissat the modewart [v.r. mowdewart] could leid Becaus that natour denyit had hir sycht a1568 Gyre-carling 7.
He gadderit ane menȝie of modwartis to warp doun the tour 1587 Carmichael Etym. 4.
Talpa, a modiwart 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xiv.
Modiwart a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xviii. 57.
Hir meit of modeuarts and myce, He changed in partridge, and in pout 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 8.
Likening an hereticke to a modiwort or brok working hid under the ground(c) 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 10.
As quhan the moudeuart and serpent leauis the eird 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 79.
Like the mowdiworts in Thessaly, that overthrew a whol towne 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1964) 442.
Mole, a moudewort(d) ? 1616 Brechin Kirk S.
Being delated … for stoning his land on the Sabboth day he deponed that he was taking ane molldewort in ane kearne off stones

b. Allusively, chiefly with reference to the supposed blindness of the mole; also fig.(1) 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 44.
In this pestilenciall diseis euerie ane is mair blind nor the moudeuart in sic thingis as concernis thair awin helth 1584 Calderwood IV. 131.
He is blockish as a stocke, and blind as a mod-wart 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 107. 1616 Rollock Wks. II. 514.
But bring him to the scriptures of God … he is as blind as a moldewarpe and as fond as a fool a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 32.(2) 1617 Crawford Mun. Invent. II. 262.
As if all your hierers ver moudivarts in divinety(3) 1658 R. Moray Lett. 267 (4 Apr.).
Even that might leave you some fear of a mowdywart

c. Attrib., with -hill, -hillok, and with -feit.(1) 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 167.
Every modywarp [v.rr. modywert, -wart] hyll 1631 Strathbogie Presb. 5.
The said witch bad hir tack ane moldewort hillock and muild out of the church yard and putt it [etc.] 1650 Maxwell Mem. I. 356.
Charme … for a sore leg … by takeing of the mouldes of ane modiwark hillock wheron never leife did grow(2) 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 212.
For the vsing be way of witchcraft of modewart feit vpoune him in his purse gevin to him be Sathan

2. transf., as a term of abuse.Applied to an infant, appar. one dwarfish, wizened and misshapen. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 288 (T).
Of that mismaid mowdywart [H. mowdewart] mischeif they mwte