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: 1892-1908, 1963
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WISTA, n. Also wister. An open, exposed, windswept situation. Gen. in phr. to stand idda wister, to be without shelter (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1974). Wrongly explained in 1908 quot. as the west wind. [′wɪstə(r)]Sh. 1892 Manson's Almanac:
Da very breer wis nattered black i da wista.Sh. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. vii. 267:
Puir body, its weelta be seen at he's stude idda wister.Sh. 1963:
Animals might lie “oot i da bare wista”, i.e. with no shelter.
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"Wista n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/wista>
