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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Late, Lait(t, n. Also: layt(t. [North. and north midl. and early ME. late, lat, pl. lates (Orm, Layamon), midl. and south. lote, plur. loten (Layamon), lotis, ON. lát let, letting, loss, in plur. manners, also ON. læte plur. manners, whence ME. lete id.: cf. also MLG. lât outward appearance, gesture, manner. Latterly appar. chiefly north. and north midl. in ME., and, f. c 1400, appar. only Sc.]

a. sing. Outward appearance or aspect; outward manner or bearing.(1) 1375 Barb. vii. 127.
Thai persawyt … That he wes the … king, And chaungyt contenance and late; … For thai war fayis to the king a1400 Leg. S. ix. 235.
The fellone fende … with gret noyse & ilmowtht late … held his gate Ib. xli. 74.
Medicinaris … Has sone persawyng be his late … that luf distrenȝet hyme(2) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 746.
Furth faris the folk … That bemyt war be the lord, lufsum of lait a1500 Sir Eger 68.
When we departed at yond gate, Thou was full blyth, and light of late

b. plur. Ways, manners, demeanour, behaviour, conduct.(1) c1420 Ratis R. 2536.
The seveynt eild … twrnand To latis ȝong & wncunand 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 383 (B).
Turn al latis blyth in … bitternes 1456 Hay II. 129/31.
[In summer] is it spedefull to be resonable in latis of lufing c1460 Thewis Wysmen 463.
[The ignorant are] euir raprewand lordis latis, Wenand thai couth amend al estatis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 95.
Ȝhit ar thi latis vnlufsum and ladlike 1533 Boece iii. vii. 100.
Rutouris and harlotis quhilkis for rutorie and licht latis … war exaltit to honoure Ib. xv. iii. 578.
Sic wanton latis and mysreul was mare skaithfull becaus it was in presence of inemyis(b) (c 1580) Alex. i. 1288.
Ane wickit man … He luiffit him nocht, na wald him heir, His laittis na his lessons leir c1420 Ratis R. (Maxims) 6.
Lefe of all laitis of lichorye a1500 Henr. III. 96/11.
He had a dochter … Off lusty laitis and he honour c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 146.
Than all thai leuch apon loft, with laitis full mery Id. xlviii. 118.
He did thame ressaif with princely laitis 1535 Stewart 51631.
Ane lous lymmer wes full of rycht euill layttis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 552.
O luvaris … behald … The fresche fontane of knichtis amorus Quhat thay desyre in laitis delitius a1570-86 Scott Maitl. F. xciii. 84.
Aulde ageit rubiatouris Thai will hant the laittis of laidis 1587-99 Hume 11/2.
Alace, how lang haue I delayed To leaue the laits of youth?(2) c1420 Wynt. iv. 2498.
He was … Noucht lycht off latis bot luffly a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 160.
He wes ladlike of laitis, and light of his fere c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 46.
Full sowttar lyk he wes of laitis 15.. Christis K. (B).
To dans thir damysellis thame dicht, Thir lassis licht of laitis a1568 Bann. MS. 263 a/5.
O wicket wemen … Ouir licht of laitis vnleill and licherus