a. Obs. Also 5–6 wolw-, 6 woulu-, wollw-, Sc. volw-, 6–7 wo(o)lu-, 7–9 woolv-. [f. wolv-, inflexional stem of WOLF sb. + -ISH1.]
1. = WOLFISH 2, 3.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 174. Among wolvys be wolvysshe of corage.
15[?]. Six Ballads with Burdens (Percy Soc.), 5. This wollwysshe shepe.
1540–7. Coverdale, Fruitful Less., i. (1593), M 1. Iudas … hauing woluish conditions vnder sheepes cloathing.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, V. (1922), 191. This woolvish sheepheard.
1604. Supplic. Masse-priests, Ans., K 2. The wooluish cruelty of popish Inquisitors.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. iv. 330. With her nailes Shee ’l flea thy Woluish visage.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, II. i. D 3 b. Out you wooluish mungrells!
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables, I. clvi. 141. These Wolvish Back-Friends.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., I. x. 181. If superstition and despotism have been suffered to let in their woolvish sheep.
2. = WOLFISH 1.
1565. Satir. Poems Reform., i. 133. I sawe the ffrendlie man wounde in a volwyshe weede.
1577. T. Kendall, Flowers Epigr., 87. The founder of the same [sc. Rome] with Wouluishe milke was fedde.
1793. Blake, Songs Exper., Little Girl Found, 51. Nor fear the wolvish howl Nor the lions’ growl.
Hence † Wolvishly adv.; † Wolvishness.
1538. Bale, Three Lawes, 1211. Thy woluysshnesse by thre crownes wyll I hyde making the a pope.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., IV. 663. Some, wolvishly, did prey upon the quick.
So † Wolvy a. Obs. rare–0.
1611. Cotgr., Louvier, Woluie, Wolfe-like.
