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.
†WIG, n.2 Also wigg, wyg. Only in phr. f(r)ae wig to wa, from wall to wall, back and forward, from pillar to post (Sc. 1808 Jam., wyg). Also in Cum. dial.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 111:
How she is catcht for you frae wigg to wa'.Sc. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 203:
His presence [Brownie's] was, at times, indicated by the self-rocking of a cradle, or by the continued, and pendulum measured motion, from ‘Wig to Wa'' — of the slack rope which generally crossed the farmer's ha' and over which were flung . . . aprons, stockings, hoshings &c.Mry. 1852 A. Christie Mountain Strains 104:
I've ca'd the houses ane an' a', Knock'd every thing frae wig to wa'.Abd. 1928 Weekly Journal (29 Nov.) 6:
The place packit fae wig tae wa'.
