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.
WAY-FLUDE, n. Also -flood, wa(e)fleed (ne.Sc.), and corrupt forms wamflet, wafflin, wefflin, -um. The outflow of water from a mill-wheel, the tail-race (Abd. (waefleed, wamflet), Ags. (wefflin, -um) 1825 Jam.); a water-channel (Bnff., Abd. 1973). See Flude.Mry. 1756 Session Papers, Stephen v. Brodie (11 Nov.) 5:
£25 Scots for the Mill-lead and Way-flood.Rxb. c.1840 Watson W.-B. (1923) 341:
Loup the wafflin, Jock.Bnff. 1930:
There's ower little room for the wa'-fleed, an' it gars the wheel lag a bittie.