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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.

Quotation dates: 1949

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WHEESA-CRAMPS, n. Also wheesa-crapes (Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. Gl.), bodily aches, “an out-of-sorts condition, when one is rather unwell or (metaph.) out of temper; a state of sulk” (Ork. 1929 Marw.). [′ʍəisə-, ′ʍisə-] Cf. Wheiso-bealing, n. and Wheisa-girs, n.

Phr. in the wheesa-cramps, out of sorts, slightly unwell. Ork. 1949 Anth. Ork. Verse (Marwick) 123:
Blind, glaeket, lame and full o' wheesa-crapes, They followed the uncrooned King o' Galilee.

[Of Scand. orig. Cf. Norw. dial. kveisa, a boil or festering, Sw. dial. kväiso, a whitlow, O.N. kveisa, abscess, Norw. dial. kveisa, a “hangover”, delirium, Icel. kveisa, colic, Sw. dial. kväiso, rheumatism, all from *kveis, Norw. dial. kveis, Dan. kvæse, a worm in the brain or bowels of an animal, many diseases, incl. boils, being attributed to the presence of a worm in the affected part. Cf. also Icel. kveisugras, Dan. kvæsurt, of various medicinal plants.]

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"Wheesa-cramps n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/wheesa_cramps_n>

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