warslen.
/ˈwɑːs(ə)l/, U.S. /ˈwɑrs(ə)l/, Scottish English /ˈwars(ə)l/ Scottish.
1. A mental or other non-physical struggle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > [noun] > striving or struggling > an act of
strugglingc1386
effort1490
bargain1615
struggle1692
pilget1777
warsle1792
sprattle1824
wrestle1893
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > [noun] > an act or instance of
flitec1000
strifea1225
wara1300
pulla1400
lakec1420
contenta1450
stour?c1450
contentiona1500
pingle1543
agony1555
feudc1565
combat1567
skirmish1576
grapple1604
counter-scuffle1628
scuffle1641
agon1649
tug1660
tug of war1677
risse1684
struggle1692
palaver1707
hash1789
warsle1792
scrabble1794
set-to1794
go1823
bucklea1849
wrestle1850
tussle1857
head-to-head1884
scrum1905
battleground1931
shoot-out1953
mud-wrestle1986
1792 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 659 The warld's wrack we share o't, The warstle and the care o't.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Midlothian in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. (ed. 2) IV. viii. 171 Mony a warstle he has had for that puir lassie—I am thinking he petitions mair for her than for yoursel, hinny.
a1865 in Trans. Hawick Archaeol. Soc. (1868) 40/1 The minister..had a weary warsle wi' a wersh discource.
a1886 D. Grant Sc. Stories (1888) 6 I canna say I'm sorry that the weary warsle o' life is sae nearly owre.
1933 J. Nicolson Hentilagets (new ed.) 22 Mony a sair wassle hed du wi da deil i da shape o oonjustice.
1986 R. A. Jamieson Shoormal 54 Harry listen Harry please I'm tired o dis warsel.
2014 A. Matheson in Lallans 85 114 In the hinmaist warsle fur Tamara's sowel, the deil losses tae the heivinly angel.
2. A physical struggle; a tussle, a wrestling match. Also: a task involving physical effort or difficulty.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > bout
thro1303
wrestling1303
pulla1400
fall1597
wrestling pull1602
wrestle1670
wrestling-matcha1684
warslec1811
c1811 Rumour Club Misc. I. 30 in Sc. National Dict. at Warsle Wi' a last warstle again oot she came.
1819 J. Rennie St. Patrick I. xi. 166 Though I had got a fell crunt ahint the haffit, I wan up wi' a warsle.
1820 J. Hogg Winter Evening Tales I. 282 When twey or threy o' them come in ae night, we juost gar them try a werstle.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 193 They quarrelled..on the St Valentine's Even, and had a warstle.
1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin xix. 191 At length wi' a sair warsel he did get into the bed.
1869 A. Macdonald Love, Law & Theol. iii. 46 He had thrown him doun in a warstle.
1934 Border Mag. Jan. 13 It's a waesome warstle ower the hill, Aneath a wintry sky.
1979 J. J. Graham Shetland Dict. 97/1 Dey hed dem a braa warsel afore dey got da boat hame ida gell.
1994 G. M. Brown Beside Ocean of Time 46 We both need a drop of ale..after our Warstle with old Troy [sc. a horse].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
warslev.
/ˈwɑːs(ə)l/, U.S. /ˈwɑrs(ə)l/, Scottish English /ˈwars(ə)l/ Scottish and English regional (northern).
1.
a. intransitive. To wrestle physically; to try to throw another or each other to the ground. Also with with.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > wrestle [verb (intransitive)]
wraxlec1000
wrestlea1100
warslea1400
ringle1648
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 3933 In hand he [sc. Jacob] lahut an angel briht, þat in handis werstild [Vesp. wristeld, Fairf. wresteled, Trin. Cambr. wrestleled] þai.
a1450 Partonope of Blois (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1912) l. 4348 And thus they warsteled [a1500 BL Add. wrastelle, a1500 Rawl. Poet. wrestellede] and stryvid sore.
a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) ii. l. 224 Wytht hym wyrstyllyde [a1500 Nero wrestlyt] the Angelle.
a1572 J. Knox Hist. Reformation Scotl. in Wks. (1846) I. 468 To feght with God, and to ovircum him, as Jacob did in warsling with his Angell.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. l. 59014 To worsill or cast the stane, In all Ingland that tyme maik had he nane.
1789 D. Davidson Thoughts Seasons 16 The chiels wad meet in daffin, And warsle for a corkin' preen.
1823 C. K. Sharpe Ballad Bk. 57 They warsled up, they warsled down, Till Sir John fell to the ground.
1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin xiv. 133 I warselled an' weegled, an' kickit, an' flang.
1890 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 19 July 152/2 The polisman rins at him, and they being to warsle, and they kick.
1914 J. Cranna Fraserburgh 135 Keepin' stot wi heed and buik, He warstled wi' the air.
1969 Sports Illustr. 11 Aug. 29/2 Can ya na run or swoom or warstle instead?
1982 D. Purves Ill-gien Guidmither in Sc. Lit. Jrnl. 9 82 The perr o thaim stertit ti warsil thegither.
b. transitive. To wrestle physically with (an adversary). Also figurative and in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight with [verb (transitive)]
fightOE
strugglec1386
wrestle1398
cope witha1467
undertake1470
to set one's foot by1536
skirmc1540
make1542
to break blows, words with1589
combata1592
to take up1600
warsle1606
stoush1924
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > strive against
to stand with ——OE
warc1230
contrast1489
gainstrive1549
oppugn1591
warsle1606
combat1627
stickle1627
reluctate1668
antagonize1742
to fight up against1768
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > wrestle with [verb (transitive)]
warsle1606
wrestle1818
1606 in C. S. Romanes Sel. Rec. Regality of Melrose (1914) I. 23 Gif it can be sufficientlie provein that he was wersland or gripand the persone.
1678 J. P. tr. J. Johnstone Descr. Nature Four-footed Beasts i. ii. 102/2 The green Lizard..is called also the Greater; and the Serpent-fighter, (they worstling serpents).
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 544 Ye'll soon hae Poets o' the Scottish nation, Will..warsle Time, and lay him on his back.
1804 R. Tannahill Coggie iii The puir man's patron coggie, It warsels care, it fechts life's fauchts.
a1835 Twa Brothers ii, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1884) I. ii. 439/1 But gin ye come to yonder wood I'll warsle you a fa'.
1894 J. Cunningham Broomieburn 14 Cutty Beattie's offered tae wursel Bob the saddler.
1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 41 Ye can warsell them if ye can.
2000 M. Fitt But n Ben A-go-go v. 41 He didna want tae warsel onybody the day, no wi fufty-fowre degrees on the thermo clocks.
2.
a. intransitive. To experience physical difficulty, to struggle; to move with a struggle or an effort. Also figurative and in figurative contexts (cf. also sense 3).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > contend [verb (intransitive)]
winc888
fightc900
flitec900
wraxlec1000
wrestlea1200
cockc1225
conteckc1290
strivec1290
struta1300
topc1305
to have, hold, make, take strifec1374
stightlea1375
debatec1386
batea1400
strugglec1412
hurlc1440
ruffle1440
warc1460
warslea1500
pingle?a1513
contend1529
repugn1529
scruggle1530
sturtc1535
tuga1550
broilc1567
threap1572
yoke1581
bustle1585
bandy1594
tilt1595
combat1597
to go (also shake, try, wrestle) a fall1597
mutiny1597
militate1598
combatizec1600
scuffle1601
to run (or ride) a-tilt1608
wage1608
contesta1618
stickle1625
conflict1628
stickle1647
dispute1656
fence1665
contrast1672
scramble1696
to battle it1715
rug1832
grabble1835
buffet1839
tussle1862
pickeer1892
passage1895
tangle1928
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself or make an effort [verb (intransitive)] > make strenuous efforts > in face of difficulties
wring1470
warslea1500
contend?1518
agonize1570
wrestle1591
struggle1597
throe1615
pull1676
sprattle1786
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 3384 The ded horss lyith virslyng with the men.
1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados xiii. iv. 82 Or like as that, on the house syde the snale,..Ane lang tyme gan do wersil [older text wrassill], and to wrele Thristand fast with thare feit, vnto the wale.
1573 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxix. 350 Then wes he worsland our ane wondie swyre.
1609 S. Grahame Anat. Humors f. 58v We are heere in this world like the diseased creature, warsling, and stil turning on a bed of sorrow.
1786 R. Burns Poems 62 As Mailie..Was ae day nibbling on the tether, Upon her cloot she coost a hitch, An' owre she warsl'd in the ditch.
1788 E. Picken Poems & Epist. 107 An' let him kiss the tear awa', That warsles doun thy charmin face.
1796 A. Wilson Loss o' Pack 4 For ay the mair I warsl'd roun' and roun' I fand mysel' ay stick the deeper down.
1822 J. Galt Provost xxiv. 178 The five poor barks, that were warsling against the strong arm of the elements.
1830 Perthshire Advertiser 30 Sept. Leaving the poor unfortunate man werstling in his blood.
a1877 W. Chisholm Poems (1879) 62 Auld Time warsles by wi' slow an' laggin' wing.
1923 Humorist 13 Oct. 284/1 The tortoise put oot its heid, shook it, and gettin' doon to the floor, warstled across the Brussels to the furthest corner.
1961 P. Buchan Mount Pleasant 35 An' syne fin ye leave to warstle hame—‘Gweed nicht an' hist ye back!’
2008 C. Robinson & E. Finlayson Sc. Weather iv. 86 Effort needit tae warsle agin the blafferts.
b. transitive. to warsle one's way and variants: to make one's way with difficulty. Also in extended use.
ΚΠ
1945 Scots Mag. Apr. 43 Three o' his michtiest men warstled their wye thro' the enemies' lines.
1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iii. 30 A Laitin byook..A eest tae warsle ma rodd throwe.
1961 People's Jrnl. 3 June 12 ‘Noo jist fes ben the idder ane—it'll be the oven pot!’ I warsled ma wye ben wi' a muckle flat-boddamed pot wi' three feet.
1995 A. Fenton Craiters ii. 74 E later in e day, e mair it's in yer face, till e time comes fin it's warsled its wye roon ahin e trees an draps doon ahin e rollin world.
3. intransitive. To struggle mentally; to make a great psychological effort. Chiefly with with: to struggle to cope with or understand something; to engage in a mental struggle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > be occupied or busy (in or at something) [verb (intransitive)] > take thought to do or busy oneself
wrestlec1454
warsle?a1513
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 79 Quha with this warld dois warsill and stryfe And dois his dayis in dolour dryfe.
c1535 M. Nisbet New Test. in Scots (1905) III. Prol. to Rom. 327 Werssile with thi selff, and do quhat thou wil or cann.
c1600 A. Montgomerie Poems (2000) I. 80 Warsill as it war against ȝour will, Appeiring angrie thoght ȝe haif no yre.
1628 Z. Boyd Last Battell Soule viii. 1073 We shall worsle with God in prayer that your end may bee peace.
1787 R. Burns Poems (new ed.) 71 He seem'd as he wi' Time had warstl'd lang.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian xi, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 312 Warstling wi' hunger, and cauld..upon wet brae-sides, peat-haggs, and flow-mosses.
1857 Misty Morning (2nd Thousand) 107 Him tae warstle wi' the doctor in a thing o' that kind.
1902 J. E. Wood Farden Ha' xiii. 242 It isna for us tae come tae grups wi' the facts o' oor lives; we must jist tak' them and no' warstle wi' them.
1932 R. L. Cassie Scots Sangs 33 I've fochen sair wi' auld Voltaire, I've warslet lang wi' Shaw.
1994 A. Gray Hist. Maker p. xi I have warstled to help this by putting among my final notes a glossary of words liable to ramfeezle Sassenachs.
2000 M. Fitt But n Ben A-go-go vii. 56 The Danes and Norwegians warsled wi aulder technology.
2014 D. Kynoch in Lallans 85 33 For aa that he's warslt for mony an ear,..Yit, Hivven be thankit, at least he's aye here.
Phrasal verbs
PV1. With adverbs.† to warsle down to warsle on to warsle out to warsle through † to warsle up
Obsolete. rare.
transitive. To reduce (a person) to a state of weakness or depression.
ΚΠ
a1801 R. Gall Poems & Songs (1819) 121 Ere eild wi' his blatters had warsled me down.
1. intransitive. To continue struggling or making an effort.
ΚΠ
1822 J. Galt Sir Andrew Wylie II. xli. 173 Noo that I hae got the better o' the shame,..I maun just warsle on.
1844 J. Ballantine Miller of Deanhaugh xvi. 247 Hoot toots, man, I warstled on for twenty years afore I gat this length.
1899 J. Buchan Grey Weather 185 I had nocht to dae but warstle on wi' nae mair fushion than a kittlin'.
1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 151/1 Warsle/Warzle/Wezzle/Wizzle, to wrestle, to struggle... ‘Ah warsled on wi' t'hoss fur ower an hower.’ ‘Yĕ mun warsle on ez best yĕ can’—i.e., struggle on with adverse conditions.
1982 D. Fraser in H. Brown Poems Sc. Hills 8 I've settled doun upon the toun; I warsle on wi' thrift.
1999 D. Purves tr. A. Chekhov Thrie Sisters (SCOTS) iv. We maun warsil on, leevin an wurkin!
2. transitive. To put on (a garment, etc.) with difficulty, to struggle to get on. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] > put on > in clumsy or fumbling manner
shuffle1865
to warsle on1887
1887 J. Service Life Dr. Duguid i. xx. 130 I..warsled on my claes.
1899 [implied in: Sketch 30 Aug. 244/2 This ‘warsling on’ of his clothes is an operation all the more difficult, as the Kaiser..is practically but a one-armed man. (at warsling at Derivatives)].
Now rare.
transitive. To resolve or work out with difficulty or after a struggle. rare.See also to warsle out of —— at Phrasal verbs 2.
ΚΠ
a1886 D. Grant Sc. Stories (1888) 72 That was a question that cost me nae little serious reflection an' prospection; but I warsled it oot in my ain min'.
intransitive. To continue despite difficulty; to progress or live one's life in a haphazard or unplanned way; to get by; to get through an examination, etc., so as just to escape failure, to scrape through.
ΚΠ
1821 W. Sutherland Poems & Songs 32 Yet happy still, blest wi' content, They warsle through.
1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie 22 I'll hae aneugh ado to warstle through, without throwing awa siller on your nicknack thin feckless happins.
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xii. 129 It was a driech employ, and praise the Lord that I have warstled through with it!
1895 A. M. Stoddart J. S. Blackie II. 233 He was sent to a tutorial class for a month or two, after which he was allowed to warstle through.
1928 N. Shepherd Quarry Wood xviii. 299 On the fourth day the doctor thought her gone: but she warstled through and spoke in weak uncertain syllables.
1933 ‘J. Bridie’ Sleeping Clergyman 9 I'll warstle through, don't you fret.
1964 K. Fidler Desperate Journey iv. 77 If I don't fight him, all the mob will be at me and give me a beating... Don't be feart, Kirsty. I'll worstle through!
2003 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) 6 Oct. 12 Be honest wi yersel an ye'll warsle throwe nae bother.
Obsolete. rare.
1. transitive. To create or build up by an effort.
ΚΠ
1796 A. Wilson Loss o' Pack 3 Aye! thae were days indeed, that gart me hope, Aeblins, thro' time, to warsle up a shop.
2. intransitive. To grow into adulthood in difficult circumstances.
ΚΠ
1853 M. Oliphant Katie Stewart xxix. 308 Peggie, how in all the world has this bairn warstled up into the woman she is?
PV2. With prepositions. to warsle out of —— to warsle through ——
Now rare.† 1. transitive. To deprive (a person) of with an effort or after a struggle. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1820 J. Hogg Winter Evening Tales I. 289 I'm sair cheatit gin some o' your warstlers dinna warstle you out o' ony bit virtue..that ye hae.
2.
a. transitive. To extract (something) from with difficulty or after a struggle.
ΚΠ
1872 W. Philip It'll a' come Richt xv Bit I'll close wi' him [sc. the Devil], an' warstle them oot o' his grip, and hurl him back tae his ain howff.
1931 Teesdale Mercury 17 June 3/4 Aye, Penny'll gie tha a penn'orth—an' n'ya mair thou winnut warsle oot o' Penny.
1987 B. Holton tr. S. Nai'an Men o the Mossflow iv, in Edinb. Rev. Feb. 84 Gin A'd kent this place wis here A wadna hae needit tae warsle yon bucktfu o drink out the lad: A cud juist hae come doun here an bocht it!
b. intransitive. To extract oneself from with difficulty or after a struggle.
ΚΠ
1891 M. M. Dowie Girl in Karpathians 231 Holes over my depth, but none but what I might have warsled out of.
1918 J. Ingles Laird 8 But the lest nicht he trampit on't [sc. a watch] Warslin' ooten his claes.
Now rare.
intransitive. To make one's way through or survive with a struggle. Also: to get through (an examination, etc.) so as just to escape failure, to scrape through.
ΚΠ
1835 R. Nicoll Poems & Lyrics 79 A muckle share o' luve we've had The warld as we've warsled through.
1848 R. Davidson Leaves from Peasant's Cottage Drawer 182 The sinking snaw they warsal through.
1891 I. L. Bird Journeys in Persia & Kurdistan I. ii. 26 The richer inhabitants, who have warstled through the summer in their dim and latticed serdahs, emerge and pitch their tents in the plains of Ctesiphon.
1901 ‘G. Douglas’ House with Green Shutters xxii Lots of young chaps, when they warstle through their Arts, teach the sons of swells.
1909 C. Murray Hamewith 26 Greek aneuch to warsle thro's degree.
1944 Scots Mag. Dec. 224 Tam and I were warslin' through the Auld Testament.
1987 D. Purves Ill Guidmither (SCOTS) This lyfe's oor punishment for wickedness—a weirie darg ti warsil throu until the end.
Derivatives
ˈwarsling n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun]
wraxlingc1000
wrestling?c1225
warslinga1450
palaestraa1500
wrestle1593
a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (Claud.) (1974) l. 885 (MED) For schotyng, for wyrstyllyng or oþer play..þas mekyll agayne þe saule are.
a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Adv. 19.2.3) i. l. 340 Coryne..Of Cornewell first, had grete liking To cast þai carllis in werstling.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 133 He hes att werslingis bein ane hunder.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iii. iv. 138 Our fallowschip exerce palestrale play,..Nakit worsling and strougling at nyse poynt.
1609 S. Grahame Anat. Humors f. 27 It is such poore soules who hath their ever-warsling mindes intrecated in a Laborinth of woes.
1628 Z. Boyd Last Battell Soule 12 I cannot expresse what a worsling I finde within mee.
1631 in S. A. Gillon Sel. Justiciary Cases (1953) I. 165 Gif ony hurt was gottin be the persewer it proceidit of ane strugilling or warsilling and of ane fall gottin be the persewer in that warsilling quhairof he mycht be the caus himselff..of his awin hurt.
1823 J. Galt Ringan Gilhaize I. xxviii. 145 He got no rest in the night, with the warsling of troubled thoughts and pious fears.
1866 W. Gregor Dial. Banffshire (Philol. Soc.) 211 He's a wirslin' bodie; he'll lay bye siller aff o' a place it ony ither ane wid stairve on.
1899 Sketch 30 Aug. 244/2 This ‘warsling on’ of his clothes is an operation all the more difficult, as the Kaiser..is practically but a one-armed man.
1900 C. Murray Hamewith 36 A warslin' thrang o' mortals still she spies, Wha strive an' fecht an' spurn the grassy howe.
1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 48 Back and fore be the caller burn The warslin' worms and wud pass.
2000 B. Leeming Scots Haiku II 8 Warslin corbies stertit bi a fliein news.
?2002 I. W. D. Forde Hale ir Sindries ii. 116 Makkin guid uiss o the structurs o soshietie ti wun our juist rewaird frae our warsillins.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > wrestler
wrestlerc1050
athlete1585
palaestrian1599
warsler1820
matman1923
chanty wrastler1954
1820 J. Hogg Winter Evening Tales I. 289 I'm sair cheatit gin some o' your warstlers dinna warstle you out o' ony bit virtue..that ye hae.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Worsler, a wrestler.
1843 G. W. Gillespie Misc. Poems 138 ‘Stick at it teughly! shaw your birss!’ Ilk warstler sturdier vies In wrath that night.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1792v.a1400