Wringle-gut, subs. phr. (common).—A nervous, fidgety man.
Wrinkle, subs. (old).—A new idea,
useful hint, cunning trick, smart
dodge.
d.1555. Latimer, Works, ii. 422. And now what manner of man do you make me, Master N., when you note me to be so much abused by so ignorant a man, so simple, so plain, and so far without all wrinkles?
15[?]. Narratives of the Reformation [Camden Soc.], 102. Palmer as he was a man symple and withoute all wryncles off cloked colusy-one, opened to hym his whole intent.
1580. Lyly, Euphues and his England, 389. They are too experte in loue hauing learned in this time of their long peace euery wrinckle that is to be scene or imagined.
1709-10. Swift, Pol. Conv., i. Lady Ans. Have a care, Miss; they say mocking is catching. Miss. I never heard that. Nev. Why then, Miss, you have one wrinkle; more than ever you had before.
c.1876. Music Hall Song, 'You're More Than Seven.' I know you're a little bit artful, old boy, And up to a wrinkle or two.
Writerling, subs. (old).—An
author of the baser sort, a petty
journalist.
1802. Taylor [Robberd, Memoir, 1. 420]. Every writer and writerling of name has a salary from the Government.
Writings. To burn the writings,
verb. phr. (old).—To
quarrel.
Wrokin, subs. (old).—A Dutch
woman.
Wrong. In various combinations
and phrases: e.g. Wrong in
the upper-storey = crazy; in
the wrong box = mistaken,
embarrassed, in jeopardy; the
wrong end of the stick = the
worst of a position, the false of a
story; to wake up the wrong
passenger = to make a mistake
in the individual, 'to get the
wrong sow by the ear'; to
laugh on the wrong side of
the mouth = to cry; to get
out of (or rise out of) the
wrong [or right) side of the
bed (or right side) = a happy
augury (or the reverse).
1554. Ridley ('Foxe,' 1838), vi. 438. Sir, quoth I, if you will hear how St. Augustine expoundeth that place, you shall perceive that you are in a wrong box.
1588. J. Udall, Distrephes, 31. I perceive that you and I are in a wrong box.
1596. Jonson, Ev. Man in Humour, ii. 1. He has the wrong sow by the ear, i' faith; and claps his dish at the wrong man's door.
1605. Chapman and Jonson, Eastward Ho, ii. 1. You have the sow by the right ear, sir.
1607. Marston, What you Will [Works (1633), sig. Rb]. You rise on your right side to-day, marry.
1614. Terence in English [Nares]. C. What doth shee keepe house alreadie? D. Alreadie. C. O good God: we rose on the right side to-day.
c.1620. Fletcher, Women Pleased, i. [s.v., near end of act].
1633. Machin, Dumb Knight, iv. 1. Sure I said my prayers, ris'd on my right side . . . No hare did cross me, nor no bearded witch, Nor other ominous sign.
1664. Butler, Hudibras, II. iii. 580. You have a wrong sow by the ear.
1714. Lucas, Gamesters, 65. But tho' he laugh; 'twas on the wrong side of his mouth.
d.1731. Ward, Merry Observations, June. Those that happen to have the wrong sow by the ear will be very apt to curse the shortness of the Vacation.
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, xliii. 'That, I grant you, must be confessed: doctor, I'm afraid we have got into the wrong box.'
