ˈrigwiddy Sc. († and north.)
Forms: 5 rygwythi, 5 rigwethy, 6, 8 -widdy (9 -widdie, -wuddie), 8–9 rigwoodie.
[f. rig n.1 + withy: cf. next.]
A back-band or ridge-band for a cart-horse, orig. one made of twisted withes or twigs.
| 1419–20 Durh. Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 407 In reparacione sellarum, frenorum..et j rygwythi. Ibid. 636, j Crow⁓pour, j rigwethy novum. 1513 Acc. Ld. High Treas. IV. 514 For xxiiij stane of towis to be thetis, soumes and rig⁓widdeis. 1709 Rec. Elgin (New Spalding Cl.) I. 381 Ilk dozen rigwoodies, 2d. 1752 Ibid. I. 465 Sowms, thramels, rigwoodies, tethers, wallropes, thrawn wawns and all other wood or work of wood, straw, bent or rushes. 1799 J. Robertson Agric. Perth 100 What are called coup-carts, i.e. when..the contents can be discharged, without lifting the shafts or rig-widdy. 1808 Jamieson s.v., The rigwiddie, in the Highlands, is to this day made of twisted twigs of oak. 1894 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin ix, A cadger bodie..gettin's rigwoodie mendit. |
b. attrib. as an abusive epithet.
| 1790 Burns Tam O'Shanter 160 Wither'd beldams, auld and droll, Rigwoodie hags, wad spean a foal. 1828 Buchan Rigwoodie Carlin i, Faer ye gaun, ye rigwoodie carlin? c 1860 W. Anderson in Edwards Mod. Scot. Poets (1881) II. 236 A rigwoodie deil was Jean Findlater's loon. |