† will-firen.
Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps (i) a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Or perhaps (ii) formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: wildfire n.; wheel n., fire n.
Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps (i) a variant of wildfire n., used in a sense corresponding to needfire n. 2 on the basis of a semantic overlap between wildfire n. 2c and needfire n. 1; or perhaps (ii) < wheel n. (compare Scottish forms at that entry) + fire n., with reference to (possible) use of a wheel in the production of the fire.For the possible use of a wheel in the production of needfire, compare the following description of a ritual on the Isle of Mull in 1767:1844 in J. Grimm Deutsche Mythologie (ed. 2) I. 574 They carried to the top of Carnmoor a wheel and nine spindles of oakwood. They extinguished every fire in every house within sight of the hill; the wheel was then turned from east to west over the nine spindles long enough to produce fire by friction.
Scottish.
Obsolete.
rare.
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > a fire > [noun] > a kind of fire > fire obtained by friction
1826 8 June 3/2 The fuel was ignited by will-fire, that is, fire obtained by friction.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2021).
n.1826