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.
Lathly, Laithly, a. Also: lathe-, laithe-, layth- and -lie. [North. ME. lathely (15th c.), latli (? lat[h]li) (Cursor M.), midl. and south loth(e)ly, -liche, loothly, earlier loþ(e)ly(ch, -li, e.m.E. loth(e)ly, loathly, OE. láðlic; north. ME. also laithly (Cursor M.), ON. leiðiligr.This form, which occurs only in verse (very commonly in Douglas), was appar. obsolete c 1570; the later form, which is also in prose, was Laidly.]
Loathsome, horrible, hideous, hateful.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 677.
Sanct Niniane, … Ve thé bryng a thing … The quhethire, tho it lathly be, Inpossible is nocht to thé For to recouer it a1500 K. Hart 854.
Cruikit was his lathlie lymmis bayth a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 462.
Thow spewit and kest out mony a lathly lomp Ib. 485.
Fra honest folk deuoide this lathly lown c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 79.
Lechery, that lathly [M. lathelie] cors a1568 Scott xxxi. 56.
Lat … nocht thoill lathly lust to leid ws(b) a1500 Henr. III. 115/31 (Makc.).
Luk thow my laythly [M. lathlie] lycome gyf I le Id. 97/25 (B).
He wes the laithliest on to luk [etc.] a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 358.
Thai laithly lippis vntit with fals tressoun, Kissit his mouth 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. ii. 177.
Ȝone catiue … A laithlie ryme dispitefull and subtelle Compylit hes c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 161.
Thow Lazarus, thow laithly lene tramort 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 36.
With thar laithly twich al thing fyle thai Ib. viii. 139.
The blak laithly smoke Ib. vii. Prol. 107.
The nycht owle, … Laithly of form Ib. iii. iv. 62, 102, ix. 56; iv. viii. 100; vi. Prol. 158, ii. 115, iv. 83; vii. v. 118; etc. 1535 Stewart 35758, 46885. c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 97.
Thare laithlie lyning furthwart flypit c1552 Id. Mon. 4947.
Ane laithlye loch of stynkand lychorye 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7890.
Ane laithlie creature 1567 G. Ball. 40.
His laithlie flesche
