c. 1610. Chapman, Iliad, To Rdr. A 5. Their long words Shewe in short verse, as in a narrow place, Two opposites should meet, with two-hand swords; Vnwieldily, without or use or grace.
1611. Cotgr., Inhabilement,… weakely; vnweldily, vneasily.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 623. His finny Flocks about their Shepherd play…. Unweildily they wallow first in Ooze, Then in the shady Covert seek Repose.
1830. Fraser’s Mag., I. 24. It slides amain, unwieldily, Into the universal sea.
1848. T. Aird, Summer Day, Noon, 39. The cottar’s cow … comes Cantering unwieldily.
1862. Smiles, Engineers, III. 101. Locomotives … dragging themselves unwieldily along at … five or six miles an hour.
