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.
WEEL-COME, ppl.adj. Also -comed. See Come, v.
1. Arriving at a propitious or opportune moment, welcome (ne.Sc. 1973).Sc. 1870 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 83:
It's weel come, for our sowens were but thin the day.Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 13:
Od, ye're weel come. Here, see, gie this dickie a festen to me.
2. (1) Of persons: of good stock or lineage, of honourable parentage, well-born (Abd., Dmf. (weel-comed) 1973). Also in n.Eng. dial.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 42:
Caus I had a bystart canna ye chrisen the weel com'd ane?
(2) Of things: honestly acquired.Ayr. 1840 D. McKillop Poems (1870) 116:
If these be a' his aim, The weel-come gear o' honest pain.
(3) Comb. weel-come-through, of a mature age, on in years.Cai. 1872 M. MacLennan Peasant Life 144:
She was weel come-throwgh by me.Per. 1912 J. H. Findlater Sc. Stories 313:
She was not a “lass” at all; rather, as they said, “A weel-come-through woman.”
