Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Na les, n., a. and adv. Also: nalesse, naeles. [North. ME. nales (Cursor M.). Cf. also No les.] No less, not less, as much, in various uses.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 102.
n. The feyndis gaif thame hait leid to laip, Thair lovery wes na les c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. lxxxii. 19.
I gat na les na dewill a thing 1551 Hamilton Cat. 213. c1590 Fowler II. 10/8. c1610 Melville Mem. 217.
Sir James Balfour wes also tane out his awen house, when he lippenit for na les(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 515.
adj. Sic thingis … sall infound na les experience … than ye war travellit throw the warld 1608 Conv. Burghs II. 254.
Ane lairge tyme and na les expensis(3) 1533 Boece ii. ii. 89 b.
adv. Na les gevin to hardyment na his broder Ib. vii. 70.
Na les lamentabill 1562-3 Winȝet I. 8/27.
Thay ar na les than the vtheris degenerat ignorantis 1585 Acts III. 418/1.
Naeles skaithfull 1596 Dalr. I. 61/7, etc. 1603 Southesk MSS. 722.
Seing our peple heir langis na lesse for … the Quene … then they did for ovrselff 1622-6 Bisset I. 42/8.