1566. Studley, Senecas Medea, V. (1581), T 5. And this with wailesome murther like shall lose her tender life.
1891. Kipling, City Dreadf. Nt., vi. (1892), 36. Another wilderness of shut-up houses, wherein it seems that people do continually and feebly strum stringed instruments of a plaintive and wailsome nature.