int. and sb. Obs. Forms: α. 1 wá lá wá, 3–4 walawa (4 walwa, walaiwa). β. 3 wala-, 4 walewo; 3 wola-, 4 wole-, 5 wolowo. γ. 3, 5 welawo, 5 wellawoo; 4–5 welleawoy, wellowoy. δ. 4 weilawo, 4–5 weylawo (5 weyle a woo). [OE. wá lá wá, f. wá WOE sb. and lá LO int.; cf. WALE int. In the γ-forms the first element has been assimilated to wel WELL adv. (cf. OE. wel lá WELLA), and in the δ-forms to ME. wey- in weylawey: see WELLAWAY.]
1. int. = WELLAWAY A.
α. c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 1. Walawa þæt ða unʓesæliʓan menn ne maʓon ʓebidon hwonne he him to cume.
c. 900. Bæda’s Hist., II. i. (1890), 96. Wala wa: þæt is sarlic, þætte [etc.].
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1086. Wala wa, þæt æniʓ man sceolde modiʓan swa.
c. 1205. Lay., 19632. Wa la wa [c. 1275 Wo la wo] Þat hit sculde iwurðen swa.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15367. Ful walwa! þan mai he sing. Ibid. (a. 1300), 15279 (Gött.). He mai sai walawa his werd þat forwid him es laid.
β. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 88. Weilawei & wolawo, heo seið.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 412. Þu singest a wynter wolawo.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 742 (Kölbing). Wolewo, mi swete maide.
c. 1400. Pride of Life, 327 (Brandl). Ȝe world is nou, so wo lo wo, in suc bal i bound.
γ, δ. 13[?]. Minor Poems of Vernon MS., xxxvii. 225. Weilawei & weilawo, þat synne was I-wrouȝt!
c. 1400. Arth. & Merl., 120 (Linc. Inn). Syngand allas and weylawo.
c. 1425. Processional Nuns Chester (1899), 31. Thy white body was blacke and bloo. Oure synnes it made so weyle A woo.
c. 1500. Gest of Robyn Hode, st. 438, in Child, Ballads (1888), III. 77. Alas and well a woo!
2. sb. = WELLAWAY B. 2.
c. 1275. Lay., 26769. Welawo was ȝam ibore Þat in hire wey were bivore.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 142 (Kölbing). To Winchester þai flowen þo Wiþ mani siȝhing & walewo.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 235. He hath a greuous penaunce, þat is welawo whan he waketh.
