Obs. [Old Northumbrian wœstern, var. of OE. wœsten, wésten, f. the stem *wōst-: cf. WESTE a. The ending -ern for -en(n also appears in éfern EVEN sb., fæstern FASTEN sb. and *lenctern LENTEN sb.] A desert, wilderness.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. iii. 1. In woestern iudeæ [in deserto iudaeae]. Ibid., Mark viii. 4. On woestern [in solitudine].
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 129. Ich am his steuene þe remeð in þis westerne. Ibid. For þi is þis westren forgrouwen mid brimbles and mid þornes.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xviii. (Egipciane), 1298. Ȝarne he lukyt one ilke syd of þat westerne, brad & wyd.
