A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Listly, Lystly, adv. [ME. (midl., 14th c.) listli, listely, lysti-, lystyly, earlier ME. listeliche, OE. listelíce (= ON. listulega elegantly, cunningly), f. OE. list List n.3 Appar. not recorded in Eng. after the 14th c. midl. allit. poems William of Palerne and Gawain and the Green Knight. In Sc. only in early verse and, if the reading of the Bann. MS. is here correct, once in Dunbar.] Skilfully, deftly; cunningly, craftily. —a1400 Leg. S. vi. 307.
He … lystly lousit sone the band That Thomas had in fwte & hand Ib. xxxviii. 296.
Scho … softyt hurtis that ware sare & listly als kemmyt thare hare c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 301.
To Troye I went lystly [L. furtive] And tretyt it so studiously That I that relyke brought away c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 100.
This lady liftit vp his [the lion's] cluvis cleir, And leit him listly lene vpon hir kne
