† ˈwavenger Sc. and north. Obs.
Forms: 5–6 vau-, 6 wauengeour, 9 waff-, whiffinger, waifinger.
[App. f. waif n. after messenger, passenger, scavenger, etc.]
1. Sc. A vagabond. Also attrib.
| 1493 Sc. Acts Jas. IV (1814) II. 235/1 To causs idill men vauengeouris to laubour for þair leuing. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. xi. 17 [Shall it be] lefull till a wauengeour strangeir Me and my realm betrump on this maneir. Ibid. xii. v. 99 Follow me Quham now ȝon vauengeour, ȝon ilk stranger, Affrays so. |
2. dial. A stray animal, estray.
| 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss, Waifinger, an estray. a 1864 R. B. Peacock Lonsdale Gloss., Waifinger, stray cattle. |