Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
WANWORDY, adj. Also -ie, ¶-wardy, -wirdy. Unworthy, worthless (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Now liter.Edb. 1772 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 97:
Wanwordy, crazy, dinsome thing, As e'er was fram'd to jow or ring.Edb. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 162:
Whilk action o' the rogue wanwordy Distrest the heart o' anxious Geordy.Fif. 1841 C. Gray Lays 230:
I ken a hand-saw frae a hawk; A blackbird frae a craw wanwordy.Ags. 1883 Brechin Advert. (9 Jan.) 3:
There he wis, the wan wordie wratch.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. xlvii.:
I' whatna gloiry they noo rejyce, wha ance kythed measly tae this warl' an' in a wye wanwardy o' life.
