Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
UNWEEL, adj. Also o(o)nweel (Sh.). Not in good health, indisposed. Orig. Sc. and n.Eng. dial. but adopted as St.Eng. from about 1780. In Sc. the word connotes rather a definite illness than an indeterminate malaise; sickly, of an ailing disposition (Sc. 1799 W. Mitchell Scotticisms 87, 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc. See Weel, adj. Hence unweelness, n., bad health, illness (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; ne.Sc. 1973). Obs. or arch. in Eng.Peb. 1702 C. B. Gunn Linton Church (1912) 83:
John Russell can give some account of his unwellness then and there.Wgt. 1704 Session Rec. Kirkinner MS. (25 June):
Sederunt, all except Alexander McHaffie and William McKie who are unweel.Abd. 1733 W. Forbes Dominie Depos'd (1765) 28:
If ye commit ye ken what crime, And turn unwell.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality vii.:
Dinna tell me of your son's illness, Mause! Had he been sincerely unweel, ye would hae been at the Tower by daylight to get something that wad do him gude.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxxiv.:
The unweel beastie in the stall ahent the door.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 203:
A've hid an unco unweelness a' the spring.Wgt. 1877 G. Fraser Sketches 355:
Cud ee spare me a wee sowp o' milk for an unweel wean?Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums xii.:
Them 'at's strong, doesna ken what illness is, an' so it's nat'ral they shouldna sympathize wi' onweel fowk.Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 27:
Folk sent for him tho' nae oonweel; He kent fine fat to dee.Cai. 1929 Scots Mag. (May) 98:
I'm rale onweel, Finlay, rale onweel.
