witherweight

English

Alternative forms

• wither weight, wother weight, widder wecht, wodderweght

Etymology

From wither- (“counter-”) +‎ weight. Compare Middle English witherweȝen (“to counter-weight, counter-balance”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɪðə(ɹ)ˌweɪt/

Noun

witherweight (plural witherweights)

1. (UK dialectal, Scotland) A counterbalancing weight; counterweight.
   • c1665, Sel. Biog. I 265.:

     It is good to have a speciall care that gifts come not in the ballance with grace; for that is too gross a wither-weight. Lay by the painted case when you weigh the jewell; […]

   • 1672, M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 12.:

     He puts it ay so upon their hand that he gives them it with a wother weight; […]

   • 1822, James Hogg, The three perils of man; or, War, women, and witchcraft - Page 317:

     So, upon the whole, you judge that the balance preponderates on our side just now ?" " I should think sae, Sire, when sic a clod as this castle of Roxburgh is thrown into the bucket. It is nae witherweight this for the end of a weigh-bauk.