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: 1631-1687
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Lesser, a. ? Also: lessell. [Late ME. and e.m.E. lesser, lasser (1459), in place of the older Les a.] Smaller, lesser. — 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 26 Sept.
Of lesser plattis sax 1655 Mouswald Kirk S. MS. 9 Dec.
They have ane competent knowledge of the … Christiane religione … if they understand the substance of the lesser catechissime 1687 Elgin Rec. I. 343.
Each suyne of the lairgest syse one schilling four pennies each, lessell suyne ane schilling
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"Lesser adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lesser>
