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: 1420-1479, 1533-1560
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Lichtlines, n. Also: lichtly-, lychtli-, lychtly-, lichlines; lichtynes (? erroneous form). [f. Lichtly a. Only Sc.] Contemptuous behaviour or attitude, arrogance; contempt, scorn; a slight or insult.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 3413.
For lychtlynes and succwdry Drawys in defowle comownaly 1456 Hay II. 93/12. 1456 Ib. 98/10.
Our mekle syk hamelynes engenderis lychtlines and vilipensioun of princis, and nurisis dispite 1479 Acts Lords of Council I. 31/2.
For the lychtlines contempcion & offence done to the kingis hienes be Alexander Hume c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 349.
He gat a blaw, … That profferyt him ony lychtlynes [1570 lichtynes] c1475 Ib. ii. 319.
In lychtlynes tyll hvr thai grant it thair c1475 Ib. xi. 166. 1533 Boece i. iv. 40 b.
Thinking lichtlynes that with ane nacioun vagabund … thai suld myxt thare blude in mariage 1533 Ib. v. i. 162 b.
Lugthak … wald reddily myssay his agit lordis … in lichtlynes reproching to thame thare age 1533 Ib. iii. xiii. 110 b, iv. vi. 133 b, ix. iii. 292 b, xi. ix. 424. 1533 Gau 13/14.
Thay that … twrnis the halie writ to lichtlines and scorne c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iv. 290.
That hir court … suld haif na … Vilipensioun, lichtlines nor offence Of Venus court c1550 Ib. iii. 601, iv. 67. 1560 Id. Seven Sages 4140.
Gif that I lude a knicht. Within schort tyme … thay wald … tell ouir all into thair merines … to my greit lichtlynes(b) 1535 Stewart 49845.
Richt weill he knew … Thair lichlines but diligence and cuir Agane thair partie that tha held so puir … Suld be the caus of thair rewene
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"Lichtlines n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lichtlines>
