A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Lewit, a. Also: -yt. [ME. lewede, leawede etc., OE. lǽwede: cf. Lewd and Lawit.]
1. Unlearned, unlettered; lacking in literary graces, unpolished, rude.(1) c1475 Wall. v. 745.
Thir lewit Scottis has leryt litill gud 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 406.
I say nocht this of Chauser for offens, But till excus my lewyt [Sm. lawit] insufficiens Ib. 485.
Thocht I be lewit [Sm. lawit], my leill hart can nocht fenȝe c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts iv. 13.
It was fundin that thai war vnlettirit and lewit men [Wycl. idiotis](2) a1500 Colk. Sow iii. 16.
Sum wold allege my lewit langage a les is 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 21.
With bad harsk speech and lewit barbour tong
2. Low-class, common, vulgar. = Lewd a. 2. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 323.
Our werk desiris na lewyt rebalddaill Full of nobilite is thistory all haill
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Lewit adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 23 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lewit>