whiggamore (hwigamor)

[Also whiggamor, whig a more; according to Burnet, derived from whiggam, as used by the men orig. called whig gamores (def. 1) in driving their horses; whig gam is a dubious word, appar. connected with whig2, jog: see whig2. In the glo ary to the Waverley novels whig a more is defined "a great whig," appar. implying a derivation No Gael. form that could be the base of whiggamore appears; but it may be a perverted form from an original not now obvious.] 1. A person who came from the west and southwest of Scotland to Leith to buy corn. See the quota tion from Bishop Burnet, under Whig3, 2.-2. One of the people of the west of Scotland who marched to Edinburgh in 1648, their expedition being called the whiggamores inroad (see the quotation referred to in def. 1). Hence-3. A Scotch Presbyterian; one of the party opposed to the court; a whig. There [at Both well Brigg) was he and that sour whig a more they ca'd Burley. Scott, Old Mortality, xxxvii.