a. Sc. and north. dial. Forms: 6 wacryff, walkrife (waikryfe, walcryif), 5–7 walkryf(e, 6–7 wakryff, 8 wakryfe. 9 -rife, 8, 9 waukrife, 6– wakerife. [f. WAKE sb. + RIFE a.: cf. CAULDRIFE.] Indisposed to sleep, wakeful, vigilant. Also fig.
c. 1480. Henryson, Cock & Fox, 103. Oure walkryfe watche, vs for to warne and tell, Quhen that Aurora,… Put vp hir heid betuix the nicht and day.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. v. 17. Mony walkrife ene lurkis ther ondir.
1594. J. Melvill, Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 315. Acknawlaging thairin the speciall benefeit of God’s providence in steiring up the spreits of his servants to be wacryff, cearfull, and curagius.
1622. Hannay, Nightingale, etc., 25. When pleasing Prognes longing love For Philomelas sight Grew wake-rife.
c. 1730. Ramsay, Cordial, v. When thou waukrife art or dry.
1786. Burns, Epist. Major Logan, x. The witching, curs’d, delicious blinkers Hae … gart me weet my waukrife winkers Wi’ girnin spite.
1875. W. Alexander, Sk. Life among Ain Folk, 184. Eh, ye waukrife mannie: arena ye sleepin’ yet?
1895. Crockett, Grey Man, ii. 14. Being an old man, he was somewhat wakerife in the morning.
Hence Wakerifely adv., Wakerifeness.
1606. trans. Rollock’s 1 Thess., 126 (Jam.). So long as the diuell is in the world, so long there is necessity required of walkryfeness.
1633. Sir A. Johnston (Ld. Wariston), Diary (S.H.S.), I. 99. Therby I sau God recalling me from impænitence to repentance … from securite unto wakraifnes.
1825. Jamieson, Walkrifelie, waukrifelie, adv., wakefully. S.
1891. H. Johnston, Kilmallie, II. 19. During this period of wakerifeness he had longed for action of some sort, but could not well get up in the dark.
