Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ILL-WILLIE, adj., n. Also -willy; -wullie, -y, ull-wullie (Abd.). A ppl. form -willied is found (Sh. 1898 Shetland News (15 Jan.), Sh. 1958).
I. adj. 1. Bad-tempered, ill-natured (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 10, -wullie, Rxb. 1958), freq. applied to unruly animals.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 11:
An ill willy Cow should have short Horns.Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1837) II. 322:
When I expected to get a bonny lassie in my arms, to fa' heels owerhead ower an ill-willie cow.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 25:
But that droll daugeon ca'd the deil, Must be a base, ill-willie chiel.Lth. 1856 M. Oliphant Lilliesleaf xviii.:
I was not used to dealing with ill-willy bairns, our own young things having ever been of a dutiful and pleasant spirit.Lth. 1883 M. Oliphant Ladies Lindores xxv.:
It must have been an ill-willy beast that made ye give your arm a skreed like that.
2. Ungenerous, grudging, disobliging, mean (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Abd. 1958).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 236:
Little wats the ill willy Wife, what a Dinner may hold in. For a handsome Treat may procure good Friends and great Interest.Ayr. 1786 Burns On a Scotch Bard x.:
Fareweel, my rhyme-composing billie! Your native soil was right ill-willie.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel iii.:
When I have come hame ower late and found the West Port steekit and the waiter ill-willy.Abd. 1877 G. Macdonald M. of Lossie xx.:
It's no Ma'colm; it's the illwully factor.m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 62:
I tell't Jess no' to fash hersel for an ill-willy auld jaud o' a deacon's wife.Abd. 1930 Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 105:
Awyte he wizna ullwullie t' the peer an' deservin'.
3. Disinclined, reluctant, averse (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.); unfriendly, hostile, morose; of fish: slow to take the bait. Cf. Ill-will, II. 1. (1) (c). Also adv.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads I. 310:
Then, Maggie, bena sae ill-willy.Fif. 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 124:
Syn baith the Bears now shine ill-willie Growlin' at our carouse.Lnk. 1824 Anon. Sc. Peasants v.:
They were neither shy nor ill-willy, but they didna tell their secrets to every body.Ags. a.1830 Bards of Ags. (Reid 1897) 145:
A wae be to the Laird o' Kelly, That's been to Robin sae ill-willie.Uls. 1898 A. McIlroy Meetin'-Hoose Green xvii.:
It occurred tae me 'at George Frame's weeda michtna' be ill-wully tae venture on the merrit' state a second time.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (4 Feb.):
I see her inunder da flee, bit shü's ill-willied.Sc. 1922 P. Macgillivray Bog Myrtle 47:
Gin life be worth the livin there, Or ill-willy folk be fewer.Knr. 1925 H. Haliburton Horace 230:
Farewell, my bird-observin' billie! Hae! here's my loof! I'm nocht illwillie.Abd. 1993:
At's a coorse, ill-willie man she his.
¶II. n. A person of a morose or bad-tempered disposition.Abd. 1868 W. Shelley Wayside Flowers 97:
Let dour ill-willie sit and fret, The while I lilt the ither sang.
