variant of WERE-.
[1802. Scott, Minstrelsy, II. 100. A wild story of a warwolf, or rather a war bear.]
1838. Court Mag., XIII. 261. A curious story of a wer-bear … is quoted by Sir Walter Scott.
1902. Folk-lore, June, 157, note. The wer-tiger beliefs, which are held … by the Peninsular Malays.
1904. G. C. Keidel, Man-Fox in Japanese Tradit., 1 (MS.). The werfox, if we may so call him, is invisible.
1925. C. K. Meek, North. Tribes Nigeria, I. 184. The villagers next day taxed the British officer with the death of the Galadima, who was known to be a wer-hyena.
