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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.

WATTLE, n.¹, v.¹ Also watle; ¶waddle. Sc. forms and usages:

I. n. 1. A pliant rod, twig or wand (Bwk. 1825 Jam.). Also in Eng. dial. Transf. in 1832 quot. = penis. Cf. Wand, n., 7.Peb. 1699 Burgh Rec. Peebles (B.R.S.) 162:
To visit the Sheilgrein wood, and consider whither or not there may be any watles conveniently spared out therof.Ayr. 1786 Burns Auld Farmer's Salut. x.:
Nae whip nor spur, but just a wattle O' saugh or hazle.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 34:
They cramped my bit, an' held me in, Syne wi' a wattle payd my skin.ne.Sc. 1832 P. Buchan Secret Songs 54:
I'll pawn my high dress, and my richest array, For to try the long waddle o' Johnny McBey.Cai. 1869 M. MacLennan Peasant Life 259:
He bore a branch of elder-tree in his hand. “What's he aifter wi' the wattle?” said one.

2. In pl. in roofing or thatching: the interwoven twigs upon which the turf or thatch was laid (Per. 1973). Also in Eng. dial.Dmf. 1820 J. Johnstone Poems 92:
Frae the wattles dead-drops spatter'd.Ags. 1874 C. Sievwright Love Lilts 9:
His hoosie was biggit wi' divots, An' covered wi' wattles an' thatch.Abd. 1880 G. Webster Crim. Officer 37:
Wi' the aul' fashion't reef an' the sooty divots lyin' upo' the wattles inside.

3. A hurdle, a piece of fencing made of plaited twigs and branches (Per. 1973). Also in Eng. dial.Knr. 1886 H. Haliburton Horace 98:
Owre they rin Whaur neither fence o' wire nor wattle Can haud them in.

4. Esp. in tinkers' speech: a rough tent or shelter made of twigs and branches covered with tarpaulin or the like (Sc. 1930).Per. 1916 M. & J. Findlater Seen & Heard 44:
A doctor body doon Aberfeldy way cam' roond by the wattles an' said it was sinfu' keepin' a deein' man oot-bye in the cauld.

5. Fig. A tangle, mix-up, confused mess (Cai. 1905 E.D.D., Cai. 1973).Cai. 1939:
A restless child would have the clothes of his cot “a' in a wattle.”Cai. 1957:
Said of a line going in a ravel — “It's a' in a wattle.”

II. v. 1. To beat with a stick, to switch, to chastise. Cf. Swattle, v.²Gall. 1796 J. Lauderdale Poems 40:
[To] gar ye rin awa' to wattle Yon Sans Culottes, unchancie cattle.

2. As in Eng. to interlace twigs, etc.: (1) in vbl.n. wat(t)lin, twigs or branches which have been or can be plaited to form wattle-work, wicker(-work). Also attrib.Inv. 1722 Forfeited Estate Papers (S.H.S.) 47 Note:
Eighteen loads of Wattins [sic] to the Cruives of Kilmorack.Inv. 1735 Steuart Letter-Bk. (S.H.S.) 393:
Pray send me per David Rose a Watlin Cradle for a child, of the best kind.Sc. 1763 “Theophilus Insulanus” Second Sight 26:
Going to cut wattling for creels.Ags. 1776 Session Rec. Arbirlot MS. (13 Dec.):
1 Cart Load Prunings for wattling for foreside [of a roof].Abd. 1877 W. Alexander Rural Life 10:
Stout binders, formed of saplings sawn up the middle, were placed horizontally down the rib of the roof, and over these again transversely the “watlin” consisting of smaller sticks split with a wedge.

(2) to bind down (the thatch of a corn-stack) by an interlacing of rope, orig. pliant twigs (Ayr. 1930). Hence wattler, the cross- or horizontal ropes in this arrangement (Wgt. 1973). Cf. Owergang, n., 2.

3. (1) To ramble in an erratic desultory manner (Cai. 1973).Cai. 1928:
He gied wattlan 'mang 'e peyt banks.

(2) Fig. in ppl.adj. wattled, entangled, mixed-up, criss-crossed (Cai. 1973).Cai. 1939:
'E corn iz fair wattled 'egither.