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: 1380-1596
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Lefully, Leif(f)ully, -lie, adv. Also: leful(l)é, leffully, -fwlly, leyfully, leafullie. [Late ME. and e.m.E. leffly (c 1380), leefully (Caxton), leffally (1540), leyfully (1548), f. Leful(l a.1 Common in Hay. Cf. Levefully.] Permissibly, properly, rightly; lawfully.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xli. 373.
Bot, that he mocht do lefully, He went to the Pape in hy & asskit lef to wed a wife 1456 Hay I. 127/2.
Quhethir gif I aw lefully to help my nychtbour in armes, gif ony wald sett to sla him 1456 Ib. 180/30.
For the sauf condyt is ȝouris under the quhilk may nocht be contenyt grettar na ȝe lefully 1456 Ib. 111/5, 131/28, 142/21, 150/3, 155/27, 165/15 etc. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 34/3. 1512 Crim. Trials. I. i. 81.
In that case, he may be lefully slane but accusatioune 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 210.
[He] requirit tham quhat thai wald chairge him lefulle with and he suld obey the samyn at his power 1592 Colville Lett. 97.
Your lordship awin lefully to be commandit 1596 Cal. Sc. P. XII. 413.
Youris lefullie, ye watt quhoe(b) 1456 Hay I. 228/30.
He mycht … ger him pay ransoune leffully 1550 Hist. Carnegie 29.
Your Gracis hwmyll cowsyng, with serwyce leffwlly1576 Douglas Corr. 218.(c) 1380 Yule Collection (Reg. H.).
That we sal be helpare and consalour … in alsmikil as mai be done throch ws leiffully and honestly 14.. Acts I. 42/2.
Than may the fadre leyfully sell or wedsett the landis 1563 Digest Justiciary Proc. E. 7.
That they micht leiffullie haif taikin and prisonit him as our souerane ladeis rebell 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. 161.
Ȝour majesties maist … obedient serviteurs leiffullie to command 1576 Douglas Corr. 204, 217. 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 24.
Quhairby the saids persones may … leifullie use their tred and traffik in tymes cuming but troubill … of the saids persones(d) 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 234.
That the same [revenues] may be leafullie sent and disposed by hir to menteane hir awin part
b. ? According to law or correct legal procedure, legally: cf. Lauchfully adv. (2), Lawfully adv. (2). 1548 Reg. Cupar Abbey II. 58.
It being leiffully previn one thame, in that cace it salbe tynsall of thair takkis
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"Lefully adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lefully>
