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.
Lauchter, n. Also: lachter, lachtter; lauchtir, -tyr, lawchter, -tter, -tir, lawchter. [ME. laughter, laȝter, laghter, early lahter, OE. hleahtor.] Laughter, the action of laughing; also, an instance of this, a laugh. Also transf.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 5071.
Thay maid … lauchter and sang 1456 Hay II. 98/9.
That mekle lauchter … engenderis vilipensioun a1487 Gud Wife & D. 15.
A woman suld … be Nocht lowd of lauchtir na of langage crous 1513 Doug. v. Prol. 23.
The ȝong enfant fyrst with lauchtir delytis To knaw hys moder 15.. Clar. ii. 553.
Uneis scho micht from lawghter then contine 1558-66 Knox I. 459.
With more than womanlie lawchtter, sche asked [etc.] 1567 Sat. P. iii. 169.
Hir lauchter lycht be lyke to trim Thysbie [etc.] 1572 Ib. xxx. 220.
The Lord … mak vs not an futestuil to our fais lauchter c1590 Fowler II. 20/10.
Not samekil the occasioun of lauchter … then … the mater of meruel 1596 Dalr. II. 8/23.
Sik verse … far away does lauchtir driue Ib. 124/26.
The peple ȝit can not remember but lauchtertransf. a1568 Scott iv. 26.
Lycht wynchis luve will fawin Evin lyk ane spanȝeollis lawchter(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. liii. 39 (M).
For lachtter nain mycht hald thair lippis 1603 Philotus 37.
Came ȝe to wow our lasse, now lachter(2) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 481.
With that he gaue ane loud lauchter on loft Ib. 10. a1578 Pitsc. I. 408/1.
[The king] gaif ane lyttill smyle and lauchter, syne [etc.]
b. In certain phrases: To brist or cleiue for or of lauchter; but lauchter, seriously; no lawchtir, no laughing matter.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Asl. MS. II. 92/102.
For lauchter [B. lawchtir] neir I brist 1596 Dalr. II. 125/24.
Al war lyk to cleiue of lauchter(2) 15.. Sym & Bruder 49.
‘I schrew thame that ay leis But lauchter,’ Quod Syme(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 38.
Quhair he leit blude it was no lawchtir
