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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WITHERSHINS, adv., adj., n. Also widder-, -sins, withershin, ¶withreshines (Dmf. 1810 R. Cromek Remains 283); ¶widdershin. [′wɪðərʃɪnz, ′wɪdər-]

I. adv. 1. Freq. with about: in a direction opposite to the usual, the wrong way round, contrariwise (Ork. 1974); hence fig. unluckily, unprosperously.Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Journal 26:
Ilka a thing gaed widdersins about wi' us.Cai. 1773 Weekly Mag. (28 Oct.) 146:
But man, can ye find out Why ilka thing's gaen withershins about?m.Lth. 1811 H. MacNeill Bygane Times 16:
Shows o' Feast, and midnight Rout Till want comes withershins about.Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 86:
Whan I the glass had fairly sucket out, I thocht the house ran withershins about.Abd. 1868 W. Shelley Wayside Flowers 57:
Wi' grief a guid gaed widdershins.Kcb. 1896 Crockett Cleg Kelly xi.:
This is telling our tale withershins about.Ork. 1987 George Mackay Brown The Golden Bird (1989) 145:
Then Jock, sweating and with his stomach whirling withershin inside him, found himself standing on the cobbles of the street.

2. Specif. Anti-clockwise, in a direction from right to left contrary to that of the sun's apparent motion (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 693; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh., m.Sc. 1974), usu. with the implication of ill omen or failure. Also in Eng. dial. Cf. Deasil.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 56:
The starns shall gang withershins ere I deceive thee.Sc. 1745 Scots Mag. (June) 275:
Thro' a' the lift was seen an unco' sight; Sharp-pointed things ran withershins as fast.Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs II. 2:
The weary wind began to rise, and the sea began to rout, My love then and his bonny ship turn'd withershins about.Rxb. 1802 J. Leyden Remains (1819) 74:
The Keeldar Stone — is a rough insulated mass, of considerable dimensions, and it is held unlucky to ride thrice withershins around it.Sc. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth xxvii.:
A very ancient custom which consists in going three times round the body of a dead or living person, imploring blessing upon him. The Deasil must be performed sun-ways, that is, by moving from right to left. If misfortune is imprecated, the party moves withershins that is, from left to right.Sh. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XV. 141:
The fishermen, when about to proceed to the fishing, think they would have bad luck, if they were to row the boat “withershins” about.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 361:
She's rinnin' roond the pot withershins — an' mutterin' her prayers backlans.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood vi.:
The dancers, still going widdershins, swung round and leaped forward, flinging their limbs as in some demented reel.wm.Sc. 1972 C. R. Steven Glens Scot. 114:
Following the ordinary traffic-route widdershins round the east side of Ward Hill.Sc. 1989 Scotsman 17 Jan 10:
Ian McCaskill is particularly at fault. He at least should know that wind round anti-cyclones goes widdershins. Ags. 1990s:
Widdershins: adv. anti-clockwise. Bwk. 1997:
Widdershins - never heard any other version used in Berwickshire. Sc. 2000 Kathleen Jamie in Alec Finlay Atoms of Delight 90:
All shells and bones
the spey-wife enters,
widdershins.

II. adj. 1. Of a plant: growing in a direction opposite to the course of the sun.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 143:
A rock of a widdershines grow, Of good rantry-tree for to carrie my tow.

2. Fig. Opposed to, at loggerheads with.Slk. 1831 Hogg Poems (1865) 366:
Say who is wicked, and who is not, And widdershin with Heaven.

†III. n. ¶1. Contrariness, obduracy.Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 151:
Sae gie's nae mae sic withershins, Ye thrawn, cauld-bluidit hizzie!

2. Used of a plant which was supposed to ward off evil spirits, specif. one which climbs in all directions as ivy or honeysuckle.s.Sc. c.1830 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club (1916) 96:
There are a certain number of species of trees, shrubs and plants which the witches and fairies hate, and which are supposed to drive and keep at a distance, all evil designing spirits, viz. the Bour-tree (elder) . . . the Fern and the Withershins.