sb. (a.) Sc. Forms: 6 widdi-, -e-, -iefow, widdy fow, viddeful(l, 8 widdy-fou’, 8–9 widdiefu’, 9 wuddiefu’, (widi-, woodiefu), widdiful (-fu’). [f. WIDDY + -FUL 2: = one who would fill a ‘widdy’ or halter.] One who deserves hanging, a gallows-bird; a scamp, rascal. (Cf. HEMPY.) Also attrib. or adj. Fit for a halter, deserving to be hanged; scampish, rascally.

1

1508.  Dunbar, Flyting, 101. Wan wisaged widdefow, out of thy wit gane wyld.

2

1535.  Lyndesay, Satyre, 3676. My Lords, for Gods saik let not hang me, Howbeit that widdiefows wald wrang me. Ibid., 3986. The widdifow wairdanis tuke my geir.

3

1549.  Compl. Scot., vi. 41. Viddefullis al, viddefuls al grit and smal.

4

1737.  Ramsay, Sc. Prov. (1750), 123. Ye’re a widdy-fou’ against hanging time.

5

1793.  Burns, Meg o’ the Mill, ii. The Laird was a widdiefu’, bleerit knurl.

6

1882.  Jamieson’s Sc. Dict., Widdifow..., a cantankerous, spiteful person, of small stature.

7

1916.  G. Abel, Wylins fae my Wallet, 15. The baillie loon, that widdiefu’ Files sets me at the kye.

8