widdiful, n. (a.) Sc.
(ˈwɪdɪfʊl)
Forms: 6 widdi-, -e-, -iefow, widdy fow, viddeful(l, 8 widdy-fou', 8–9 widdiefu', 9 wuddiefu', (widi-, woodiefu), widdiful (-fu').
[f. widdy + -ful 2: = one who would fill a ‘widdy’ or halter.]
One who deserves hanging, a gallows-bird; a scamp, rascal. (Cf. hempy.) Also attrib. or adj. Fit for a halter, deserving to be hanged; scampish, rascally.
| 1508 Dunbar Flyting 101 Wan wisaged widdefow, out of thy wit gane wyld. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 3676 My Lords, for Gods saik let not hang me, Howbeit that widdiefows wald wrange me. Ibid. 3986 The widdifow wairdanis tuke my geir. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 41 Viddefullis al, viddefuls al grit and smal. 1737 Ramsay Sc. Prov. (1750) 123 Ye're a widdy-fou' against hanging time. 1793 Burns Meg o' the Mill ii, The Laird was a widdiefu', bleerit knurl. 1882 Jamieson's Sc. Dict., Widdifow.., a cantankerous, spiteful person, of small stature. 1916 G. Abel Wylins fae my Wallet 15 The baillie loon, that widdiefu' Files sets me at the kye. |