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.
Losengeour, Losinger, n. Also: losyngeour; los(s)inger(e, -eir, losanger. [ME. losenjour (Manning), ME. and e.m.E. losenger(e (14th c.), OF. losengeour, losengier. In Sc. appar. chiefly or only in early verse.]
1. A false flatterer, a deceiver.1375 Barb. iv. 108 (E).
Thar with thaim wes a tratour, A fals lourdane, a losyngeour [C. losengeour] … maid the tresoun ?1438 Alex. i. 2939.
He luffit neuer na lossingere, Bot prysit thame that wourthy were Ib. ii. 9583.
Our lord … held all gude men ay at feid, And of trechouris and of lossingeris He maid his preue counsalers c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 251. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 826.
Ȝe losingeris and janglaris of justice With dowble menyng fals drauchtis now ȝe draw c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 258.
Wnto my lesson ȝe lyth, and leir at me wit, Gif yov nought list be forleit with losingeris vntrew
2. Taken for: A sluggard, an idler.1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 178.
Thus lysnyt I, as losanger [Sm. lossingeir, R. losingere] syk lewydnes to luke Ib. xii. Prol. 281.
I … thocht I wald na langar ly in May Les Phebus suld me losanger attaynt a1568 Bann. MS. 158 b/90.
His clais ar nocht weill on quhen it is ewin, He is ane verry lossinger and ane wanthrevin
