What does wamefou mean?
Wamefou is a Scots adjective meaning “having a full belly,” especially after eating. In older usage it could also describe a woman as pregnant, so that sense is commonly expressed as “with child.” The word belongs to traditional Scottish literature and dialect rather than standard modern English, and its reproductive reference is now dated. Its unusual combination of a physical condition and the former sense “pregnant” makes it a vivid example of how vocabulary can preserve older social and linguistic associations. Although the pregnancy sense may appear in historical texts, modern speakers would ordinarily use a less archaic term.
adjectiveHaving a full belly; in traditional usage, also applied to a woman who is pregnant.
- Having a full belly.
- Pregnant; with child.
"The old woman said that the young wife was wamefou again."
"He returned from the feast wamefou and contented."
"When she learned that she was wamefou, her mother rejoiced."
A compact piece of Scots: wamefou literally means “belly-full” and was also used for a pregnant woman.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wamefou
Wamefou is Scots and combines wame, meaning “belly,” with an element meaning “full,” so its literal sense is “belly-full.” The same components appear in wameful and wamefu. Its use for a pregnant woman reflects the older association of a full abdomen with pregnancy.
Related word forms
How wamefou is actually used
This is a traditional Scots word and is chiefly literary, historical, or dialectal in modern use. Its pregnancy sense is old-fashioned and may be offensive or inappropriate in contemporary speech.