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: 1399-1400, 1584-1629
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Litherlie, Lethirly, adv. Also: lidderlie. [ME. litherly, liþerliche etc., north. and north midl. leþerly (14th c.), letherly, west midl. and south. luþerliche, -li, early -lice, wickedly, meanly, poorly etc., e.m.E. litherly (1550) lazily, slackly.] a. ? Wickedly basely, or ? cowardly. b. Slothfully, idly. —a. a1400 Legends of the Saints i 59.
Thane wald he think quhow lethirly That he is master cuth denyb. a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS xxxv. 152.
Quhen men wes sueir & durst not steir Bot lurkit lidderlie 1629 Boyd Last B. 371.
Liue not litherlie as these that are giuen to sleepe
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"Litherlie adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/litherlie>
