wro Now north. dial.
Forms: α. north. and Sc. 3–6 wra, 5 wraa, 5, 9 wray (9 ray), 9 wrae (rae), wraie. β. 4–5 wro, 5 rowe.
[a. ON. *wrá, later rá, rǫ́ nook, cabin (whence MSw. vraa, vra, Sw. vrå, Da. vraa, Norw. raa, ro).]
1. A nook or corner; a retired or sheltered spot.
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 18155 Þaa waful wras sa dedli dim, All lighted þe lem þat come wit him. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xliii. (Cecilia) 495, I..giffis bot a lytil wra, a vyd merkat þare-for I ta. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 4190 Quare þre wees in a wraa welk þaim allane. 1513 Douglas æneid vi. Prol. 158 Sum blind Ciclopes of thi laithlie wra. 1840 De Quincey Wks. (1889) II. 365 The Dalesman..selects a sheltered spot (a wray, for instance), which protects him from the wind altogether. 1891 in Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v. Ray sb.2 |
| β a 1300 Havelok 68 He made hem lurken, and crepen in wros. c 1395 Plowman's Tale i. 81 As I wandred in a wro, In a wode besyde a wall. a 1400 Stac. Rome 181 A lutel be-hynde..Þer stont a Chapel in a wro. c 1425 Thomas of Erceld. (1875) 43 Nere þat wro is a well. |
| transf. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 866 In appocalyppce is wryten in wro, I seghe, says Iohan, þe loumbe. |
2. Sc. An enclosure or shelter for cattle. ?
Obs.