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: 1581-1696
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Lows-, Lousnes, n. Also: lowse-, louse-, louss- and -nesse. [e.m.E. lousnes (1562), -nesse, also loose-, loocenesse, late ME. losenes (c 1400).] Looseness, in certain senses of Lows a.
1. Lack of restraint or control, esp. moral; licence. a. Licentiousness, dissoluteness, immorality, wantonness. b. Lawlessness. c. Excessive freedom in speech.a., b. 1581 Burne Disput. 186 b.
A religione that leidis to lousnes and al dissolute lyf 1619 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 276.
No ministrie of the gospell in the kirkis of the deanrie, but lamentable hethenisme and sic lowsnes as is horrible to record 1638 Henderson Serm. 436.
If it were according to man's will … it would be a law of louseness and liberty 1650 Moray Synod 104.
[The parishioners of two united churches] wilbe served per vices at their own respective kirks whilk opens a doore to great lowsnes and prophanitie 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 600.
The lousnes, insolencie and oppressione of maney in the armey 1651 Auchterhouse Ann. 120.
Lowsnesse 1654 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 122.
The abhorrable sin of fornicatioune in this place, quhich is come to so great a height throw the lousenes of tyme a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 79.
Abusing their liberty to licentiousnesse and lousnesse a1658 Ib. 103. 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 170. 1662 Peebles B. Rec. II. 50. 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 192.
To prevent much idlenes and loussnes that many of the comon people … give themselves to for these few dayes about the electionec. 1641 Baillie I. 293.
Bishop Hall could not remember his shamefull putting to the barre for the lousenesse of his tongue upon my Lord Sey the last Parliament
2. Lack of settled government or authority, lawlessness, anarchy, also, disorganisation.1589 Reg. Privy C. IV. 425.
That this … kingdome … sall nocht be left in ony incertane lousenes, without dew provisioun for the regiment thairof in oure absence 1659 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 185.
Tackand to consideratioun that throw the lowsnes of the tyme this burghe micht be infestit with robbers and broken men 1662 Aberd. Council Lett. IV. 190.
This brughe and shyr [are] … under great hazard throw the lowsenes and brakennes of the countrey much occasionit by the povertie therof 1667 Laing MSS. I. 364.
I ordourd and establisht the reeling forces and brought the lousnesse of that court to som method
3. Lack of cohesion or definition, want of certainty, vagueness.1598 James VI Basil. Doron 146/5.
The langsumnes baith of richtis & procesis breidis thaire unsure lousenes & obscuritie
4. Looseness of the bowels.c 1696 Wemyss Corr. 156.
I houp Georges lousnes proceeds from teething
