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: 1499-1540
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Libber-lay, Libberla, n. Also: liberlay, libberly. [Appar. a compound consisting of the elements libber and la(y, but the connections of these are obscure. Current c 1500–40.] A cudgel. — a1500 Prestis of Peblis 234.
With twa men and ane werlot at his bak And ane liberlay full litill tent to tak [Ch. ane libberly ful lytil to lak] With ony wald he be … wraith Quha [etc.] c1500 Rowll Cursing 108 (B).
Devillis … sall kary in thair clukis Sum libberlais [M. libber layis] and sum hell crukis a1540 Freiris Berw. 481 (B).
Vp he start, and gat a libberla [M. -lay] In to his hand 1540 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. XIII. 119 b.
Ane pair of bedis … , ane libber lay, ane frying pan
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"Libber-lay n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/libber_lay>
