Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WORTHY, adj., n. Also †woorthy (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xli.); warthy; wordie (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 37, Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 162; Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Gabertunzie viii.), wordy (Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 65, Ayr. 1786 Burns To a Haggis i.; Ags. 1880 J. E. Watt Poet. Sk. 18; Bnff. 1910 “Camlach” Ballads 31); wurdie, -y (s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms xviii. 3, St Matthew iii. 11); wirdy (Gsw. 1807 J. Chirrey Misc. Poetry 105); wirtie (Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 593). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. See D, letter, 4. [′wʌrði, ′wʌrdi; Sh. ′wɪrdi]

I. adj. (1) Sc. forms. (1)Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 74:
Gin the ae answer tae dool is wark then here's
as muckle ontak as onie could want, fendfu bliss,
kyauve warthy o the laist drap o strength.(2) Worth (so much), of the value of. Obs. in Eng. in 17th c.Sc. 1720 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 180:
We thought that Dealer's Stock an ill ane, That was not wordy haf a Million.Ayr. 1819 Kilmarnock Mirror 297:
I wasna wordy a single grot.Rxb. 1824 Rymour Club Misc. II. 48:
A teaspoon o' silver is wordy some brass.

†II. n. In phr. one's ain wordie, one's old self, in one's usual state of health, etc., at one's best. Also in Eng. dial.Cld. 1818 Scots Mag. (Aug.) 155:
An' the puir thing was never its ain wordie mare, but frae that dwynit awa an' deeit.