wirling Now Sc. or dial.
(ˈwɜːlɪŋ)
Forms: 4–6 wyrling, 5–6 wirling, (5 wirlyng, wyrlyng(e, worling, 6 worlin, 9 Sc. wurlyon). See also urling2.
[Origin unknown.]
A term of abuse = ‘wretch’; in mod. dial. use, a dwarfish or puny creature.
| 13.. Metr. Hom. (Vernon MS.) in Herrig Archiv LVII. 270 Crist, his sone, God wolde not spare To beo fondet..And siþen slen him as wyrling. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 1706 A wirling, a wayryngle, a wawil-eȝid shrewe. Ibid. 1733 A selly nounbre Of wrichis & wirlingis. 1436 Libel Engl. Policy in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 187 God forbede that a wylde Yrishe wyrlynge Shulde be chosene for to be there kynge. 1508 Dunbar Flyting 193 Forworthin wirling. a 1585 Montgomerie Flyting 446 Sauing, nixt, how the nunnes that worlin sould name. 1587 Harrison Descr. Brit. iii. xiv. in Holinshed, The fridaie being commonlie called among the vulgar sort either king or worling, bicause it is either the fairest or foulest of the seauen [days]. [1691–: see urling2.] 1819 [Rennie] St. Patrick II. xvi. 313 Haud abye! ye scruntet like wurlyon o' the pit. |