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.
WAYBURN-LEAF, n.comb. Also waebrun, -burn, wab(e)ran, -on, and altered forms wavering-, waveran-, waaverin-leaf (Sh. 1947 Sh. Folk Bk. I. 87), waveren- (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. Sh. 1973); wabert- (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.), wabret- (see etym. note). Sc. forms of Eng. waybread, the greater plantain, Plantago major (Sc. 1808 Jam., wabran-; Lnk. 1831 W. Patrick Plants 94, Sc. 1869 Athenaeum (13 March) 382, “south of the Forth ”: Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., waybret; Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 75, I.Sc. 1973, waveran-leaf). [′webrən-, ′wev-, ′wɑv-]Rxb. 1803 J. Leyden Remains (1819) 302:
The wabret leaf, that by the pathway grew.Sc. 1815 C. I. Johnstone Clan-Albin III. xxxiv.:
None of Moome's salve of the wavering leaf have I at this present.Sc. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 202:
It shook like a Wabron-leaf.Dmf. 1891 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 62:
A leaf of the plantain, called the waeburn leaf, or waybread leaf, used to be wrapped round a toe with a corn to mollify the pain thereof.Sh. 1931 J. Nicolson Incidents 102:
For a suppurating sore the common application was a “waaverin leaf”.
