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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Liable, Lyable, a. Also: lyeable, lyabill, -bel(l, lybill, -bell; lay-, leyable. [e.m.E. ly-, liable (1542–3), layable (1688), ? AF. *liable, f. F. lier to bind.]

1. Legally bound or responsible, answerable (for, to, also in and of some charge or to do something). 1626 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 245.
They ar lyabill to the peyment of thair ordinar taxatioune 1659 Irvine Mun. I. 107.
The proveist, baillȝies … and others lyabell in peyment of the … mantinance … addebted foorth of the saids twa borrowes 1668 Forbes Baron Ct. 276.
Ilk boll of oatis sold … they sall be lybill for the knaship thairof 1675 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 499.
Mor lybell to M^cMilland for two eles … of Inglish ca[r]sa 1675 Erskine Diary 225.
[He] ought not only be lyeable and fyned for such conventicles as he or his lady have bein present at bot … should be answerable for his saidis tenentis 1686 Fraser P. 161.
That the said David … might be lyeable to him of all coast, skaith … and expensses(b) 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 305.
Seaverall charges concerning the millitia and other money the toun is layable to 1694 Dunferm. Ann. 360.
That … the meall buyer shall be leyable for the said custom(2) 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 377.
He shuld not be dischargit since he and his airis must be lyable to manage the rentis of the lands 16.. Sc. N. & Q. 3 Ser. XII. 167.
If … shee be fund in the lyk falt againe, that shee should by lyable to stand in the belt 1640 Dumbarton B. Rec. 62.
The burgh is liabill to furnish twa horsmen 1682 Melrose Reg. Rec. III. 45.
The said … baillie deput … caused call the haill heretors, … and uthirs layable to give suite and presence to the heade courts(3) 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 391.
I … obleis me to … be subiect in all thingis as the remanent gild brether … ar lyabill 1684 Decis. Lords F. 62.
That if any was lyable it was the intrometting tutor 1698 in H. Dalrymple Decis. (1792) 4.
The donatar of the son's forfeiture was not found liable as intromittor

2. Of land, property, produce: Subject to (also in) some payment or charge; also, chargeable to pay (the charge). 1655 Boyd Fam. P. 2 Nov.
Sax pound scots yeirlie for the vicarage teynd of ther … stirks and vtheris lyable in vicarag teynd 1665 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 2.
There ar severall brew-houssis … which aught onlie to be lyable in excyse and uther burdens to the good toun 1667 Rothesay B. Rec. 144.
All victuall that sall be importit … sall be lyabill to pay ane ladill furthe of ich boll 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 215.
The said tenement back and foir shall be layable in no more annuitie then according to the rent

3. Exposed or subject to, til, unto (something prejudicial). 1627 Douglas Chart. 325.
Seing I am layable euir til dainger 1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith (1845) 231.
In regard of his law-place, or law-condition, he was … liable … to … punishment for our sins c1650 Spalding I. 257.
Thay could not get him lyable to the censur of the Scottish lawis for this his slanderous writting 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 205.
It would … have rendered us layable to that suspitione if we had delyed to the week efter

4. Suitable, fit, qualified (for an employment). 1631 Stirling's Royal Lett. II. 556.
The parochiners, be vertew of the ministeris great aige and seiknes, stand in neid of ane liable persone for helping him in the charge of the ministrie