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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Loose, v.¹ P.t. and p.p. loos(s)ed also loozat. [Adoption of e.m.E. loose (1526), looce (1548–9), in place of Sc. Lows v.¹ or Los v.²: cf. also Luis.] To loose, undo, release, cast off, redeem, etc., in senses of Lows v.¹(1) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 150.
Howsoever our bodies be loosed to all dissolution … yet the spunks [of the Spirit] are not idle 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æn. i. 220.
Æolus … in chaines more stoutly them confining, … [being] a prince imposed To let or loose their rains 1650 Brechin Presb. 27.
Elspit Gray … [said] that William Hill hade yocked a pleugh that he should not loose in heast a 1661 J. Guthrie Considerations (1846) 249.
When Satan is loosed out of his prison, shall he not deceive the nations? 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII. 223.
Ye desired him to loose his breast … and ye stracked his side three several times with your luif 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 38.
Hic-haec-conjunx, Jack of Leyden, Brother Loose-down, Sister Slyding [marg. Buggery, &c.] 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 409.
That a knot may be cast to unite you to Him never to be loosed(2) 1652 Kirkcaldy Presb. 381.
They wer informed of some scandelous doctrine preached in Dysert be the said Mr. William for which he was loosed from Dysert 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III. 13 Nov. (6 Dec.).
He had a relation to a charge in Ireland … from which he could not … be loosed in ane orderly way(3) 1623 Laing MSS. I. 159.
M^r. Mungo and your cofferes haid not loossed from Dysert the tent of this monethe by reasone of tempestes 1676 Row in Blair Autobiog. 144.
They at last came to Lochfergus, whence they loosed November the third(4) 1657 Strathblane Par. 15.
[The lands,] through the forfalture of the said deceast James Earll of Montrose, are now redeeme and loozat of forefalture 1665 Decis. Lords G. 94.
The requisition being made contrair to the contract, it could not be valid to loose the infeftment