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.
WILLIN, ppl.adj. Also wullin (Abd. 1914 J. Leatham Daavit 19); willant (Per. 1912 J. H. Findlater Sc. Stories 115), willint (s.Sc. 1836 Border Mag. (April) 51), wullant, -unt (Lth. 1914 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 64), -int (Per. 1910 D. R. Kyd Rev. T. Hardy 116; Kcd., m. and s.Sc. 1974). Compar. williner (Abd. 1913 Abd. Univ. Review (Nov.) 40), wulliner (Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iv.). Adv. willantly (Edb. 1814 E. P. Nelson Poet. Wks. 39), willintly (Abd. 1898 Weekly Free Press (6 Aug.)), wullantlie (Rxb. 1926 Trans Hawick Arch. Soc. 32). Sc. forms and usage of Eng. willing: positively wishing, eager, deliberately intending (see quots.). Adv. willintly, intentionally (Ags. 1974). Obs. in Eng.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond B. Bowden (1922) 138:
The auld Sergint swore by a' that wis guid that we killed the soo willintly to get kollips at his bural.Bnff. 1914 R. H. Calder Glenlivet Gleanings 33:
The word “willin'” was at one time much in vogue, and may be, to some extent, in use still. At leave-taking one would say — “Weel, see an' tak' care o' yersel'”; to which the other would reply “I'll be willin',” that is, “I'll try; I'll do my best.” Sometimes the word had the force of desirous — “I was willin' (desirous) to see you aboot the pucklie o' seed corn.” And sometimes it meant anxious — “I was willin' (anxious) to get the taties up afore the snaw cam'.”
