Sc. and north. Obs. Forms: 5–6 vau-, 6 wauengeour, 9 waff-, whiffinger, weifinger. [App. f. WAIF sb. after messenger, passenger, scavenger, etc.]

1

  1.  Sc. A vagabond. Also attrib.

2

1493.  Sc. Acts Jas. IV. (1814), II. 235/1. To causs idill men vauengeouris to laubour for þair leuing.

3

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, IV. xi. 17. [Shall it be] lefull till a wauengeour strangeir Me and my realm betrump on this maneir. Ibid., XII. v. 99. Follow me Quham now ȝon vauengeour, ȝon ilk stranger, Affrays so.

4

  2.  dial. A stray animal, estray.

5

1825.  Brockett, N. C. Gloss, Waifinger, an estray.

6

a. 1864.  R. B. Peacock, Lonsdale Gloss., Waifinger, stray cattle.

7