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.
Lath(e, Laith, n. Also: layth(e. [North. and north midl. ME. lath(e, laþ (Orm), midl. and south. loth(e, OE. láð. Cf. Loth(e n. (and Leith n.).]
1. Evil, harm, injury.a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 308; Ib. xlv. 169.
That na man did hyme lath [: clath] Ib. xxxii. 416.
Scho ne wald consent thertil For fayre na lath, gud na il ?1438 Alex. ii. 131.
Gif ony man hes done thé laith [: skaith] a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 318 (Harl.).
Vertu and deuocioun … but layth [v.r. leth] causis gret delyt
2. Ill-will, hatred; disgust, revulsion, as to tak(e laith.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 28 (B).
He wald oft ban me in his breth … And I forgaif him laith and wreth(2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 324 (Harl.).
Of the taist [of food] followis tediosite, Ane man takis layth [v.r. leth] quhare he haid are delyt 1535 Stewart 15815.
Efter him self had lyne with thame baitht, Stanchit his lust, and of thame bayth tuke laith15.. Crawford Mun. Invent. II. 56.
And giff ve hawe gottin ony vrang I pray yow gar us get rameid ... that ve tak nocht ane laythe now in our auld dayis
