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.
Quotation dates: 1552-1580
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Lax, v. P.p. laxt. [ME. (Trevisa) and e.m.E. lax. L. laxāre.] tr. To release, discharge (from being at the horn). (More commonly Relax v.) 1552 Balfour Pract. 374.
Gif ane man be denuncit rebel … for non-compeirance, … and thairefter compeiris and purgis the contumacie … he aucht and sould be laxt fra the horn, and ressavit as witnes
b. To relax in the physical sense. 1580 Skeyne Descr. Well A. 2 b.
On na wayis it laxis nor molefeis ... the skyn of mannis body
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"Lax v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lax_v>
