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.
WHEEDLE, v., n. Also Sc. forms wheetle (Rnf. a.1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 276; Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick II. x., Ags. 1822 A. Balfour Farmer's Three Daughters I. 188; Lth. 1924 A. Dodds Poppies in Corn 11) and contracted form wheety (Bwk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 218); whiddle Sc. 1829 Sc. Haggis 126); ¶weedle (Lnk. 1895 W. Stewart Lilts 52); and altered forms whe(e)gle (Bwk. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 209, Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Slg., Fif., Lth., wm.Sc., Rxb. 1974), whiggle (Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 265; Fif. 1958 T. Snoddy Green Loanings 46). Dim. wheedlie, a coaxing, cajoling (Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail c.).
