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.
WHEEBER, v., n.1 Also wheebre, wheber; wheebert, whaubert, whawbert. [′ʍibər(t); ′ʍɑbərt]
I. v. 1. To whistle (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C., wheber; Bnff., Abd., Per. 1974).Abd. 1905 E.D.D.:
Stop that wheebertin', laddie, till I hear what the wife says.Kcd. 1934 Gibbon & MacDiarmid Sc. Scene 220:
He'd gant or wheeber out loud as he sat on a gate.
2. To walk with hurried, ungainly steps (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 209, wheebre), to scurry (Abd. 1974); with doon, ower: to dash (Gregor). Vbl.n., ppl.adj. wheebrin, -an, scurrying (Ib.).
3. To beat severely (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 209, wheebre). Vbl.n. wheebrin.
II. n. 1. A whistle (Per. 1974). Phr. haud your wheeber, be quiet (Kcd. 1949).Kcd. 1932 L. G. Gibbon Sunset Song 122:
Hold your damned wheeber, you'll need your breath for the bout.
Comb. ¶wheeber-wheet, a nonce form to represent some notes in the call of the curlew.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Scots Sangs 31:
Curlew's wheep, wheeber-wheet, Maks me blythe an' cantie.
2. A blow (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 209, wheebre).
3. A lump (Ib.).
4. “A lean, tall, ungainly person” (Abd. 1905 E.D.D., wheebert, whawbert, whaubert; Bnff., Abd. c.1930); a person of disagreeable manners (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 209, wheebre, Bnff. c.1930).Abd. 1905 E.D.D.:
Yer brither's an ill-shaken up whaubert. He's a rough wheebert. What wheeber was that ye were laigin' wi'?
