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

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

Quotation dates: 1500-1627

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Laborious, a. Also: laborios, -ius, -yus; lauborios, -ius. [ME. laborious (1390), F. laborieux, L. labōriōsus. Cf. Laborus a.]

1. Given to toil, industrious, hard-working; also, hard at work, active.1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 58.
Laboryus [R. Lauborius] emmotis, and the bissy beys
1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 29.
[Houses to be let] till sufficient tenentis that ar honest men and lauborius personis abill to wyn thar liffing, and nocht … till … vagabundis
1531 Bell. Boece I. xxxvi.
Dunde, … quhair mony virtewus and lauborius pepill ar in
1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 98/12.
The Romanis … [are] rycht laborious, of litill mete or sleip, and daylie exercit in batell
a1538 Abell 42 b.
Wertimeir … tholit the lauborios Saxonis to remane in Cans
15.. Clariodus v. 597.
Ilk ane to beddis gois, … Except worke men that war laborius, And bissie makand workis curious
a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 61 (Wr.).
Laborious busie bees

2. Involving much labour or effort, toilsome, laborious.1531 Bell. Boece I. 170.
Efter lang and lauborius battall
1533 Id. Livy I. 8/5.
The impire of Romanis is … rissin in sic magnificence … that the samyn is chargeand and lauborius to thame self
1533 Boece ii. xi. 80.
This kinrik quhilk be sa mony lauborios wayis our antecessouris conquest
1533 Ib. x. xvi. 392 b.
Kenneth … convoyit his cumpany, be ane lang lauborios way
1560 Rolland Seven Sages 10631.
All besines that ar laborius
1596 Dalr. I. 127/24.
To appne vpe euerie smal office wil be laborious

3. Belonging to the peasant, artisan or labouring class, working-.1533 Boece ii. vii. 70.
Of this infortunate batell the novellis to the lauborios pepill, … war … lamentabill
a1538 Abell 70 b.
500 men at oppressit the comon lauborios pepill
1534–5 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) 128.
For the paynttyne of … the knycht and the laborius man
1574 Aberd. Trades 51.
Quhairby the craftisman, thair servandis, and all utheris laborious folkis … may pas to thar labouris and fra thar labouris
1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 75.
The exacting of mercatt pryce … by and attour the beggering of laborious men it will … make his Majesties land want tennentis

b. Of tools : Used for work, work-.1533 Boece xv. i. 573 b.
Ane husband man … had certane of his awne laborios instrumentis

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