willyard

[ wil-yerd ]

adjective

, Scot. and North England.

1. obstinate; willful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of willyard¹

First recorded in 1580–90; (earlier) “wild, awkward, bewildered,” derivative of Scots, dialectal will “gone astray, perplexed” ( Middle English, from Old Norse villr ), perhaps with -ard, though formation is unclear; later influenced by will ² and wayward