whortle
(ˈhwɜːt(ə)l)
Also 7 wortle: see also hurtle n.2
[Short for whortleberry.]
= whortleberry.
| 1597 [see hurtle n.2]. 1620 Venner Via Recta vii. 131 The people vse to eat the Wortles in creame and milke. 1655 Moufet & Bennet Health's Improv. 219 Fen-berries..are of like temper and faculty with our whortles, but somewhat more astringent. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 371 Great Bilberry Bush or Whortle. 1811 Shelley St. Irvyne vi. i, I see her swift foot dash the dew from the whortle. 1863 Baring-Gould Iceland 190 The..bog-whortle.., whose white flowers, pink-tipped, stuff the ptarmigan's crop. |
| Comb. 1857 Miss Pratt Flower. Pl. V. 108 S[alix] myrsinites (Green Whortle-leaved Willow). |