Now Sc. or dial. Forms: 4–6 wyrling, 5–6 wirling, (5 wirlyng, wyrlyng(e, worling, 6 worlin, 9 Sc. wurlyon). See also URLING2. [Origin unknown.] A term of abuse = ‘wretch’; in mod. dial. use, a dwarfish or puny creature.

1

13[?].  Metr. Hom. (Vernon MS.), in Herrig’s Archiv, LVII. 270. Crist, his sone, God wolde not spare To beo fondet … And siþen slen him as wyrling.

2

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 1706. A wirling, a wayryngle, a wawil-eȝid shrewe. Ibid., 1733. A selly nounbre Of wrichis & wirlingis.

3

1436.  Libel Engl. Policy, in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 187. God forbede that a wylde Yrishe wyrlynge Shulde be chosene for to be there kynge.

4

1508.  Dunbar, Flyting, 193. Forworthin wirling.

5

a. 1585.  Montgomerie, Flyting, 446. Sauing, nixt, how the nunnes that worlin sould name.

6

1587.  Harrison, Descr. Brit., III. xiv. in Holinshed. The fridaie being commonlie called among the vulgar sort either king or worling, bicause it is either the fairest or foulest of the seauen [days].

7

[1691–:  see URLING2.]

8

1819.  [Rennie], St. Patrick, II. xvi. 313. Haud abye! ye scruntet like wurlyon o’ the pit.

9