subs. (old: long recognised).—1. Orig. (middle 17th century) a Presbyterian zealot, a conventicler: in contempt. Whence (2) the Country party (the successors of the Roundheads of the Civil War) as opposed to the Court party or TORIES (q.v.) of the Restoration. Both WHIG and Tory were first applied, about 1680, in contempt, and both were ultimately assumed with pride. The WHIGS favoured the Revolution of 1688–9, and were in power during a large portion of the eighteenth century. The WHIGS may be regarded as the party of experimental progress. The curious similarity in the historical development of both WHIG and Tory is further accentuated by the fact that at the same time (Reform Bill, 1832) as the term ‘Tory’ began to be superseded by ‘Conservative,’ so likewise the WHIGS began to be called Liberals. Also WHIGLAND = Scotland (B. E.); the WHIG COLLEGE = the Reform Club; WHIGGISH (see quot. 1696), and the usual derivatives and combinations.
1680. [PINNOCK, Goldsmith’s History of England (1873), 252, note. The year 1680 is remarkable for the introduction of the well-known epithets, WHIG and Tory. The former was given to the popular party, from their pretended affinity to the fanatical conventiclers of Scotland, who were known by the name of WHIGS. The latter was given to the courtiers, from a supposed resemblance between them and the popish banditti in Ireland, to whom the appellation of Tories was affixed. Thus these two ridiculous words came into general use, and have continued ever since to mark rival parties, though with very different meanings.]
1681. DRYDEN, Absalom and Achitophel, ‘To Reader.’ Wit and fool are consequents of WHIG and Tory; and every man is a knave or an ass to the contrary side.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. WHIGGS, the Republicans or Commonwealths-men, under the name of Patriots, and Lovers of Property; originally the Field-conventiclers in the West of Scotland. Ibid. WHIGGISH, Factious, Seditious, Restless, Uneasy.
1712. HEARNE, Reliquiæ, March, 30. Young, lewd, debauched sparks [Mohawks], all of the WHIGGISH gang, and the WHIGGS are now so much ashamed of this great scandal (provided WHIGGS can be ashamed) that …
d. 1715. BURNET, History of My Own Times, I. The south-west counties of Scotland have seldom corn enough to serve them all the year round, and the northern parts producing more than they used, those in the west went in summer to buy at Leith the stores that came from the north. From the word WHIGGAM, used in driving their horses, all that drove were called the WHIGGAMORS, contracted into WHIGS. Now in the year before the news came down of duke Hamilton’s defeat, the ministers animated their people to rise and march to Edinburgh; and they came up, marching on the head of their parishes, with an unheard-of fury, praying and preaching all the way as the came. The marquis of Argyle and his party came and headed them, they being about 6000. This was called the ‘Whiggamors’ Inroad’; and ever after that all who opposed the court came in contempt to be called WHIGS.
1712. SWIFT, The Conduct of the Allies, Appendix. They will not recognise any government in Great Britain but WHIGGARCHY only.
1714. HEARNE, Diary, 25 Sept. King George hath begun to change all the ministers, and to put in the WHIGGS … to the grievous mortification of that party called Tories.
1719. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, etc., i. 43. To oagle there a Tory tall, or a little WHIG, Defying the Pretender.
1725. SWIFT, Letter, 11 Sept. There is hardly a WHIG in Ireland who would allow a potato and butter-milk to a reputed Tory.
1791. BURKE, An Appeal from the New to the Old WHIGS. Attached to the WHIG party.
1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, xxv. It isna good for my health to come in the gate o’ the WHIGAMORE bailie bodies.
1848. John Bull, 29 April. Amongst the very few good things for which we have been indebted to the French during the last few weeks, is to be reckoned a new sauce from the laboratory of Professor Soyer, of THE WHIG COLLEGE, commonly called the Reform Club.
1849. MACAULAY, The History of England, ii. At this time were first heard two nicknames which, though originally given in insult, were soon assumed with pride…. It is a curious circumstance that one … was of Scotch, and the other of Irish, origin. Both in Scotland and in Ireland, misgovernment had called into existence bands of desperate men, whose ferocity was heightened by religious enthusiasm…. Thus the appellation of WHIG was fastened on the Presbyterian zealots of Scotland, and was transferred to those English politicians who showed a disposition to oppose the court, and to treat Protestant nonconformists with indulgence. The bogs of Ireland, at the same time, afforded a refuge to Popish Outlaws, much resembling those who were afterwards known as Whiteboys. These men were then called Tories. The name of Tory was therefore given to Englishmen who refused to concur in excluding a Roman Catholic prince from the throne.
3. (American).—During the war of the American Revolution, the terms WHIG and Tory were applied,—the former to those who supported the Revolutionary movement, the latter to the royalists, or those who adhered to the British government (BARTLETT).
