Obs. (or dial.) Forms: 1–4 woh (3 woþ), 4 wouȝ, 9 dial. oogh; pl. (etc.) 3 woȝe, woȝhe, wowe. [OE. wóh (inflected wó-, wóʓ-), of obscure origin. Hence WOUGH sb.2]
1. Crooked, bent.
862. Grant, in Birch, Cartul., II. 114. Ðanne fram langan leaʓe to ðam won stocce.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xi. 67. Sio micle nosu & sio woo.
a. 1000. Laws Æthelb, xliv. Ʒif muð oþþe eaʓe woh weorðeþ.
a. 1100. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 146/38. Diuortia, diuerticula, mistlice woʓe weʓas.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 813. Þe fox … can paþes riȝte & woȝe.
1866. Brogden, Prov. Words Lincs., 141. The woodman said that the stuff was kind, but all I’ve seen was oogh inclined.
2. Wrong, evil, bad. Also absol.
Beowulf, 1747. Wom wundorbebodum werʓan gastes.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 3. Hit is woʓ þæt hi mon læte unwitnode.
a. 1000. Riddles, xl. 24 (Gr.). Woh wyrda ʓesceapu.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1375. Þær Cristess mennisscnesse Drannc dæþess drinnch o rodetreo forr ure woȝhe dedess.
c. 1205. Lay., 4333. Þat is woh & na wiht riht.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 2. Wiðute knotte & dolke of woh inwit & of wreinde.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 164. Schild þine svikeldom vram þe liȝte, & hud þat woȝe [v.r. wowe] among þe riȝte.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1730. Her wening was al wouȝ, Vntroweand til hem to.
a. 1400. Octouian (Weber), 1050. Florentyn naȝt forsok hyt, Þey hyt wer woȝ.
