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: 1375-1672
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Lift, Lyft, n.1 Also: lifte, lyfft; luft. [North. and north midl. (latterty also south midl.) ME. lift, lyft, west midl. and south. luft, also leoft, OE. lyft. After the 14th c., only Sc.: in the mod. dial. Sc. and north. Eng. and north. Irish.]
The sky, the firmament, the upper regions. Also b. the atmosphere.Under the lift, = beneath the sky, on earth, in this world.(1) 1375 Barb. xvii. 692.
The gynour … swappit out the stane That evin toward the lift is gane a1400 Legends of the Saints xxviii. 316.
Crist … with mony sternis sere Payntyt the lyft c1420 Wynt. iv. 2086.
A low … Strak wp evyn nere to the lyfft 1456 Hay I. 283/30.
Nocht than the lift is nocht colourit 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 253.
We se half the lift that is of gret quantite c1500 Interl. Droich 50.
Hir heid wan heichar nor the lift c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 49.
Quhill that twa monis wer sene vp in the lift 1513 Doug. v. v. 26.
For hundis queste it semyt the lyft ryfe wald 1513 Ib. ix. 47.
With that the dow Heich in the lift ful glaid he gan behald 1513 Ib. ix. i. 46.
I se … movand sternys in the lyftis syde 1533 Boece vii. vii. 234 b.
The hevin and lift was obscurit 1535 Stewart 10786.
Haill schouris discendand fra the lift 1538 Lynd. Justing 30.
The feind ane thing I can se bot the lift 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 59/4.
The lyft did rane yrn 1569 Protocol Book of T. Lindsay MS. 20 b.
Johnn … oblissis him self to pay the said sowme … vpoun Mertimes day salang as the day is in the lift 1585–6 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 438.
I found matters so far by my expectation, that I looked like one that had fallen out of the lift a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 627.
He is als good a man as sets his croun to the lift1600-1610 Melvill 259.
His [the horse's] buttokes lightes hard besyd me with all his four feit to the lift 1606 Craig ii. 30/3.
Since Joue him selfe … left the lift to catch a mortall praya1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1271.
Quhat gif the lift fal [Blau adds it will smore all the leaverocks] 1652 Johnston Diary (1919) II. 189.
To see the yokings and feyghtings of airmyes in the lift 1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 34.
They are like the frost in the out come, that ere ever the sun be well up, it is flown in the lift again(b) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 99/2.
And the luft ourecouerit with perpetuall dyrknes c1610 Melville Mem. 32.
Already I see the reak of thy glory spred athort the luft in dust(2) 1513 Doug. iv. v. 3; 1513 Ib. viii. i. 100.
Fame is myscheif, quham na harm vndyr the lyft In motioun nor sterage is mair swyft 1535 Stewart 42460. 1535 Ib. 42485.
Bayth ill and gude this tyme vnder the lift 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3283. a1568 Bannatyne MS 258 a/5. 15.. Clar. iv. 780.
Ane royall present … To geive to ony queine under the liftb. 1531 Bell. Boece I. xliv.
Airlie in the morning, when the lift is pure and temperate
