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: 1399-1629
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Lof, Loif, Lowe, n. Also: lofe, loff. [ME. lof, also loff (Orm), (14th c.) loof, love, praise, also west. midl. (13th c.) price set on wares, value, OE. lof masc. (ON. lof neut.) praise. After the 14th c. only Sc.]
1. Praise; also honour, glory.Chiefly early, in verse.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xii. 345.
I na-thynge Spek forthire her of his lowynge, For it for lof inuch suld be That in apostil chosyne wes he a1400 Ib. xiv. 31.
[St. Luke] gestis that he leyryt Of vthris apostolis put in wryt … In lofe & memore of thare name a1400 Ib. xxxiii. 516.
He … saynit it & dranke [it] of, Of God of hewine in the lof a1400 Ib. xxxvi. 1. (c 1580) Alex. ii. 350.
Bachleiris That wald win lofe or pryse in weiris 1456 Hay I. 2/31.
Till him [Charles VI of France] be gevin honoure, lof and glore abune all erdely lordschippis a 1500 MS. Rawl. Q b.4 fol. 1.
He that strikis fast … He forgis him lofe & worschip c1450-2 Howlat 456 (B).(b) (c 1580) Alex. ii. 7952.
Thairfore our goddis haue the loif [: thairof; F. loement] (c 1580) Ib. 9486. 1513 Doug. xi. iv. 37.
Of quhou mekill mycht Till ony ȝong man … Was gret desire of new loif [v.rr. lufe] or glory a1568 Scott Bannatyne MS 277 a/18.
[Men's] hairtis ar sett with ficcelnes For loif and nocht for lufe(c) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiv. 261.
Auld and ȝyng Honouryt hyme gretly … Bot he of mane lowe wald nane [L. humanam gloriam fugiens] a1400 Ib. xl. 468.
Thane come feil thare-on to gowe, Of his ferly & gef God lowe a1400 Ib. l. 170.
Nocht for pryd na lowe to wyne 1535 Stewart 58028.
Quhen this wes said syne passit hame awa, But lowe or leif that tyme of ony wicht
2. An offer for sale or to buy at a certain price.Also once in mod. Sc. (Dumfr., 1920): see SND, s.v. Lofe n. Cf. also Love v. 2 and Du. lof. Fris. loof. in similar use.1556 Protocol Book of Sir Alexander Gaw (S.R.S.) 37.
[Robert Berich] sal haf the first loif and proffir of the said xii part [of Vestir Coyle] … befoir ony othir 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 220.
To haif done wrang in … losing … before pryce and loff [ed. loss] maid of sex jeists 1609 Ib. VI. 51.
To haif done wrang in disponing his said tymber … before any loff [ed. loss] maid to the town thairof1609 Inverness Rec. II. 67.
Quhair he suld haif offerit the loff to them thairof or he haid maid mercat1612 Orkn. & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 19 Aug.
That it sall not be lesum … to na chapman to buy ony merchandice from ony strainger or mechand or schip … unto the tyme the inbringer mak intimation to the baillie of the parochin … and the baillie … to the parochineris … that they … may have the first loff of sick thingis as may be maist necessair for thair use 1629 Bk. Carlaverock II. 114.
I think I have offerit more then it is worthe and yowr lordship hes never given me ane lof [ed. los] nor acquentit me withe … quhat yowr lordship wold have from me for it
