Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1813, 1871-2004
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WARST, adj., n., adv., v. Also waurst (s.Sc. 1847 H. S. Riddell Poems 87; Kcb. 1896 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet iv.); in ballad use warstan (ne.Sc. 1828 Mother's Malison in Child Ballads (1956) IV. 190). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. worst (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 65; Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 47; Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 205; Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxiv., Rxb. 1868 D. Anderson Musings 9; Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums ix.; Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv.: Lnk. 1923 G. Rae Lowland Hills 39). Gen.Sc.
Sc. form of Eng. worst.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 31:
" ... The warst is, a'm an ould man, an' if Henrietta goes awey wi' thee tae Austrellia whar's gaun tae luk efter me?"Ags. 2000 Maurice Fleming The Sidlaws 118:
A Blairgowrie man breathed a sigh of relief when the train reached Lochee. 'I think I'm by the warst noo,' he said to a fellow-passenger.
'Why - where are you going?' asked the passenger.
'Cape Town!'ne.Sc. 2004 Press and Journal 19 Jul 14:
"The warst thing ye can dee," says the heavy-events judge, Peter Fraser, eest tae the hills as a gamie aa's life "is scratch. Jist leave them abe."
Sc. combs: 1. warstfaured, ugliest. See Faur; 2. warst maid, the second of the two female attendants upon a bride; 3. warst (young) man, the second of the two male attendants of a bridegroom; 4. the worst one, the Devil.1. Slk. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake 74:
For the warst-faurd wife on the shoris of Fyfe Is cumlye comparet wi thee.2. Ags. 1921 D. H. Edwards Fisher Folks 221:
The bride and bridegroom choose a best man and a best maid, and also a warst man and warst maid.3. Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxix.:
It being left to him and the red-haired orra man to settle who should be “best” and who “warst” young man.4. Arg. 1898 N. Munro John Splendid xi.:
They might carry the gates of hell against the Worst One and all his clan.
