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.
Lows-, Louslie, adv. Also: louse- and -ly. [Late ME. (Trevisa) and e.m.E. lous(e)ly, e.m.E. lowsely (1583), ME. also losely, -liche (14th c.); f. Lows a. Cf also Looslie.] Loosely, in various (chiefly fig.) senses (see Lows a.).Insecurely, without cohesion; slackly, laxly, negligently, without due care or rigour; immorally, wantonly; frivolously, profanely; not bound to a master, unattached, without fixed employment.1533 Gau 13/12.
Thay that spekis vanlie and lowslie of God or his halie nayme 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 86.
We may seme not to haue done sa gentilly and temperately as lously and negligently that haue laid sa licht ane pane upon ane offence a1605 Montg. Flyt. 85 (T).
Ȝe tersell of ane taid Ȝour meitter mismaid hes louslie lukkit 1596 Maxwell Mem. II. 183.
I think it far meitest that ȝe … sie the same done … as becumis; … The mater … is left ovir lowslie, and I feir ane farder impediment 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
Kirk-buriall … was long (yet louselie) held as indifferent in the doylde dayes 1647 Elgin Rec. II. 256.
Some [servants] rejects service that they may leiue louslie c 1675 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 232.
[Two women] carried themselves very louslie and scandalouslie
