Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Unlucky; unchancy; wicked.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective dialectal Unlucky; unchancy.
  • adjective dialectal Wicked.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From wan- +‎ chancy. Compare unchancy. More at wan-, chancy.

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Examples

  • Indeed, ye’ll no hinder some to threap, that it was nane o’ the Auld Enemy that Dougal and my gudesire saw in the Laird’s room, but only that wanchancy creature, the Major, capering on the coffin; and that, as to the blawing on the Laird’s whistle that was heard after he was dead, the filthy brute could do that as weel as the Laird himsell, if no better.

    Wandering Willie’s Tale 1921

  • And then the as boat set aff for North Berwick, an 'the tither lay whaur it was and watched the wanchancy thing on the brae-side.

    David Balfour, a sequel to Kidnapped. 1893

  • Lord save us a '! but it's an unco life to be a sailor -- a cauld, wanchancy life.

    Merry Men Robert Louis Stevenson 1872

  • North Berwick, an 'the tither lay whaur it was and watched the wanchancy thing on the braeside.

    David Balfour, Second Part Being Memoirs Of His Adventures At Home And Abroad, The Second Part: In Which Are Set Forth His Misfortunes Anent The Appin Murder; His Troubles With Lord Advocate Grant; Captivity On The Bass Rock; Journey Into Holland And France; And Singular Relations With James More Drummond Or Macgregor, A Son Of The Notorious Rob Roy, And His Daughter Catriona Robert Louis Stevenson 1872

  • And then the as boat set aff for North Berwick, an 'the tither lay whaur it was and watched the wanchancy thing on the brae-side.

    Catriona Robert Louis Stevenson 1872

  • In the Baron's own words, 'The matter did not coincide with the feelings of the commons of Bradwardine, Mr. Waverley; and the tenants were slack and repugnant in payment of their mails and duties; and when my kinsman came to the village wi' the new factor, Mr. James Howie, to lift the rents, some wanchancy person

    Waverley — Volume 2 Walter Scott 1801

  • Indeed, ye'll no hinder some to threap that it was nane o 'the auld Enemy that Dougal and my gudesire saw in the laird's room, but only that wanchancy creature, the major, capering on the coffin; and that, as to the blawing on the laird's whistle that was heard after he was dead, the filthy brute could do that as weel as the laird himsell, if no better.

    Redgauntlet Walter Scott 1801

  • In the Baron's own words, 'The matter did not coincide with the feelings of the commons of Bradwardine, Mr. Waverley; and the tenants were slack and repugnant in payment of their mails and duties; and when my kinsman came to the village wi' the new factor, Mr. James Howie, to lift the rents, some wanchancy person

    Waverley — Complete Walter Scott 1801

  • Indeed, ye’ll no hinder some to threap that it was nane o’ the auld Enemy that Dougal and my gudesire saw in the laird’s room, but only that wanchancy creature, the major, capering on the coffin; and that, as to the blawing on the laird’s whistle that was heard after he was dead, the filthy brute could do that as weel as the laird himsell, if no better.

    Redgauntlet 2008

  • “Indeed, Robin, I’ll be better advised before I gie it back to you; it is a wanchancy weapon in a Highlandman’s hand, and I am thinking you will be about some harns-breaking.”

    Chronicles of the Canongate 2008

Comments

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  • Though some think it clever and fancy

    I call it profane necromancy

    To exhume in job lots

    These mouldering Scots

    Like kippage and forlorn wanchancy.

    October 3, 2017