Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Lak, Lake, Laik, adj. Also: lack. [Cf. late ME. and e.m.E. (1479–1644) lakk, lack(e deficient in quantity, wanting, missing, and ON. lakr deficient in quality, or in weight. The variations in form correspond with those of Lak n.¹, Lak n.², Lak v., Lake n.¹, Lake n.², Lake n.³, Lake v., Laik n. and Laik v.] Deficient in quality, inferior, poor, bad; also (a person) of inferior quality or rank. Also absol. Chiefly in the compar. and superl. forms.(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1546 (L).
[To the Romanys but ony weyn This the] lakkest [day had beyn] 1500 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 633.
In gude and fyne golde vsuale monie of Scotland and lakker metale 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 408.
Diuers vthers … Quhais lakkest weid was silkis ouir brouderit 1538 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 92.
The pair fatt cunings [to be sold] for xl d., and … the lakkest sort for xvj d. or xx d. the pair(b) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1874.
Thair was na thing that langit his array Lakar na gold c1475 Wall. ix. 98.
The lakest schip, that is his flot within, May sayll ws doun a1487 Gud Wife & D. 56.
Lawar stat, lakar clething 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 346.
Chaucer … couth follow word by word Virgill, Wisar than I may faill in lakar [R. lakker] stile Ib. xi. xiii. 118.
[He was] not forsuyth the lakest [R. lakkest] weriour, Bot forsy man, and rycht stalwart in stour 1549 Elgin Rec. I. 97.
It is ordanit that the best horse corne be sauld for vii d. and lakar for vi d.absol. 1535 Stewart 54436.
This Tiuidaill … So fremmitlie fro him that tyme he tuke And gaif ane lakar for till joy and bruke(c) Ib. 1081.
The laikast leid [sc. the Scots] in all the warld I ken, Withoutin faith to godis or to men a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 245.
As to the laik money printed at his awin comand before he was regent

b. In summations: = 'minus, less' (cf. Les a. A 5). (As in late ME. and e.m.E.) 1657 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II. 1051.
The sowme of aucht pund lack viij d. Scots money