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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1786-1930

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WILLYART, adj. Also willyard, williard, wily(e)art, wylart; wullart, wulyart; erron. yillyart.

1. Astray, bewildered (Wgt. 1974); wild, undisciplined, wayward. Also adv.Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems (1876) 22:
Wild, wilyart fancies revel in his brain.Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 100:
Wat lifts his head wi' wilyart glowr.Per. 1879 P. R. Drummond Bygone Days 424:
He gave a williaard look up to the sky.Edb. 1905 J. Lumsden Croonings 73:
Even Alf left off bird-nesting there, An up an' doun did wilyart stare.Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 10:
It is morality, the knowledge o' Guid and Ill, Fear, shame, pity, like a will and wilyart growth.

2. Awkward, shy, bashful (Sc. 1808 Jam.); of an animal; wild, scary; backward, dull (Wgt. 1974, williard). Also used as n., a shy person, a timid suitor (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 494).Ayr. 1786 Burns Lord Daer iv.:
But O, for Hogarth's magic pow'r! To show Sir Bardie's willyart glow'r, An' how he star'd and stammer'd.Rnf. 1815 W. Finlayson Rhymes 9:
Our willyart Rhymer, wha unseen, Behint a Berry-bush had been.Dmf. 1874 R. W. Reid Moorland Rhymes 18:
And wilyart muircocks birr'd alang.Abd. 1925 A. Murison Rosehearty Rhymes 26:
Ye sall hear fat wullart folk Fyles hae to say.

3. Of a place: desolate, lonely. Cf. Will, adj., 3.Rnf. 1806 R. Tannahill Poems (1876) 179:
In wilyart gens he lik'd tae stray.

4. Wilful, obstinate; of an animal: unmanageable (Lth., Bwk. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Pattersonn Gl.; Wgt. 1974).Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 26:
But had ye Byng'd some wylart bairns, It wad hae gien the laive mair harns.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xiii.:
It's a hard-set willyard beast this o' mine.Fif. c.1850 W. D. Latto Twa Bulls 11:
He saw his williard, wayward John, Maintain a bauld an' weirlike tone.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 21:
Man was aye a wilyart sorrow and a vaguin' dyvour.Per. 1897 R. M. Fergusson Village Poet 72:
Then ye can get, ye yillyart tyke, Home rule or ony rule ye like.Arg. 1930:
He's a willyart wee duvvle that; he'll no dae a thing ye tell him.

[O.Sc. wilȝart, wild, of an animal, 1590, appar. a deriv. of Will, adj., later confused with Will, n., + -art ending as in Ackwart, Dowfart, Faisart, Hameart, etc. but the phonology is unclear. Poss. there has been influence from wayward.]

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