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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

WIDE, adj.², adv.². Also weide. Sc. usages.

I. adj. In combs. and phrs.: 1. to the wide wa, to the fullest extent or width, a variant of 3. (Cai. 1974); 2. wide-gab, the angler fish, Lophius piscatorius (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 228; Ayr. 1845 Stat. Acc.² V. 447; mn.Sc. (b) 1880 F. Day Fishes I. 74; e.Sc. 1903 G. Sim Fauna of “Dee” 215); 3. wide to the wa, of a door: wide open, pushed back as far as it will go (I. and ne.Sc. 1974); 4. wide-world waukin, wide awake (Ork. 1974). See Wauk, v., 1.1. Cai. 1928:
He'll open his e'en til 'e widewa'.2. Sh. 1808 Wernerian Soc. Mem. I. 548:
It is very characteristically termed the wide-gab, the mouth being hideously large, extending entirely across its disproportionately great head.3. Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 240:
A castle that stood on a hillock, wi' the door standing wide to the wa'.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 24:
Hei's left the ooter door weide ti the waa. Nae wunder there's a caald draucht.4. m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 24:
He was wide-world waukin', and the fient a spunk o' sleep in his face.

II. adv. in phrs. 1. to gae or keep wide, of a sheep-dog: to go ahead but well away from the sheep (Cai., Per., Ayr. 1974); 2. to haud wide o, to keep clear of, avoid (Cai., Per. 1974).1. Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders vii.:
We must “keep wide”, which is a herd's term for keeping some distance from the flock in order not to alarm them.2. Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 120:
He wudna be carin for comin tae Daltallochan efter dark, onywey: for they said he had haen some queer adventures wi the deevil or the fairies or something, an hel' wide o't, even in daylicht.