Obs. Forms: α. 1 worsm (uuorsm), wursm, 3 (9 north. dial.) wursum (wrusum), 4, Sc. 6–7, 9 worsum; Sc. 7 worsam, -some, 6 woursome, 9 woursum. β. 3, 6 Sc. wirsum (3 Orm. wirrsenn), 9. north. dial. wirsom. [OE. worsm, wursm, metathetic form of the more usual worms, wurms (also wyrms), app. related to wyrm WORM sb.] Purulent matter, pus.
α. c. 825. Epinal Gloss., 777. Pus, uuorsm.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 100. Heo … þæt worsm [v.r. worms] ut atyhð. Ibid., II. 202. Oþ þæt he þæt wursm of muðe hræce.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 274. Mine wunden … gedereð neowe wrusum [v.r. wursum] & foð on eft uorte rotien.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11835. Ouer-al wrang vte worsum and ware, And wormes creuld here and þare.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. ix. 64. Thir wretchit mennis flesche, that is his fude, And drinkis worsum, and thair lopperit blude.
1595. Duncan, App. Etym. (E. D. S.), Pus, sanies, worsum of a byle.
1610. in Pitcairn, Crim. Trials, III. 95. For Bewitching of ane kow, quhairthrow þe haill milk that scho þaireftir gaif was bluid and worsam.
1613. P. Forbes, On Rev. iv. 15. It is not mixed with bloud … much lesse with bloudy worsum.
1666. Despaut. Gram., D 4 a (Jam.). Tabes … rotten and putrified blood and worsome.
1808. Jamieson, Woursum, Worsum, purulent matter; S. pron. wursum.
1846. Brockett, N. C. Words (ed. 3), Wursum, pus; particularly when foul.
β. c. 1200. Ormin, 4782. War & wirrsenn toc anan Ut off hiss lic to flowenn.
a. 1250. Ancr. R., 322 (Titus MS.). Hwon … al þe fulðe scheawes him & wringes ut tat wirsum.
1597. in Misc. Spalding Club (1841), I. 93. Thow … keist witchecraft on the said cow,… that scho gewe no milk, bot … lyk wirsum or wenem.
1847. Halliwell, Wirsom, foul pus. Yorksh.
b. quasi-adj. Purulent.
a. 1599. Rollock, Serm., Wks. 1849, I. 444. He hes not skunnert … at thy worsum bylis, and botchis.
