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.
Labourage, Lawbourage, n. Also: labor-, lawborage. [Late ME. (1475) and F. labourage.] The work of tilling the soil, cultivation, agriculture. Also attrib. with puple.1456 Hay I. 195/15.
A maner of bondis … the quhilkis ar under certane condicioun of bondage to mak certayne labourage on the felde, bathe on cornis and wynis, and nocht ellis Ib. 240/10.
Quhat best that ever man mak his labourage with, that beste suld joys the privilege of the ox, sen he dois the office. For the labourage of the erde is … privilegit for the wynnyng of mannis sustenaunce Ib. II. 23/36.
The peple … byde apon thair craftis and labouragis, and grathis lyfing for the lordis Ib. 28/31.
The heeing ax is ordanyt to cutt doune treis that hynderis labourage of landis c1460 Thewis Wysmen 191.
Thai … furtheris almen that are abile To clergy craft or lawbourage 1480 Acta Conc. I. 72/1.
Johne had the proffit of the seide of the ȝere before or it was tane fra him and the labourage of the gude c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1278.
Of craftis thay had small vsage, Off marchandyce, nor lawborage 1566-70 Buch. Comm. Virgil Georgics ii. 196.
Culta, laborageattrib. 1456 Hay II. 94/27.
All craftis and labouragis puple in his realme
