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: 1399-1626, 1686
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Lufar, Luifar, n. Also: lufare, -air, -er(e, lufar(e, -ear, -er; luifare, -er, luiffar; lofare; lyffar; loaffer. [ME. luffer (13th, 15th c.), lufer (Rolle); var. (? chiefly north. and latterly only Sc.) of Luvar n.] A lover, in senses of Lufe v.1
1. One who feels affection or regard for another, a friend or well-wisher. Also in the spiritual sense.a1400 Legends of the Saints xviii. 1085.
God … gyfis mare to his luferis Than thai cane ask a1400 Ib. l. 832.
Luffer 1551 Hamilton Catechism 73.
Thair is ane freind quhilk will beir us company at our burde … bot he will nocht byde with us in tyme of our nede. And the warld … is full of siclike luffaris 1573 Satirical Poems xl. Pref. p. 277.
Ane zelous professour of Goddis word … and lufer of his seruandis 1573 Tyrie Cath. Tr. 29/10.
Despysars of the gude, … vantars, luffars of thame selues mair than of God c 1600 Analecta Scotica II. 269.
Ȝit I sal be contentit … how sone that I sal know the persone unsuspect to be ane luiffar of me1686 Dunlop P. III. 23.
I do not doubt of my being weallcom to my heartsome loaffer [sc. her son]
2. One who is in love with another; one's lover or paramour.For some further examples, see Lel(e a. 3 (2).(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints xli. 35.
My luffar in sic wedyng Has me erlyt with his ryng a1400 Ib. 46.
I sal tak one na manere Bot hyme any lufere a1400 Ib. xxxiv. 98.
Hyr lufaris c1420 Wynt. viii. 6809.
Quhare ladyis joly Mycht se … how manfully Thaire luffaris bare thaim c1409-1436 Kingis Quair clv.
The lufare vnicorne c1409-1436 Ib. clxxix.
Awak! … I bring. lufar, … The newis glad c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vi. 68.
A child was chewyt thir twa luffaris betuene a1500 Quare of Jelusy 313.
With the supplee of euery trewe lufare a1500 Ib. 442. a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 13.
Birdis … That sessit not one lufaris for to cry a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2356.
Lufaris c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 375.
Luffaris c1500-c1512 Id. lxi. 1. a1568 Id. Bannatyne MS 103 b/4.
Lufar 1513 Doug. i. vi. 82.
That fals man … With vaynhope trumpit the wofull luffar [sc. Dido] 1513 Ib. iv. ii. 64. 1513 Ib. Prol. 100, 1513 Ib. x. 24, xii. Prol. 29.
Luffaris 1513 Ib. viii. Prol. 27.
Lufferis 1531 Bell. Boece I. x.
As quhen ane lufar dois his lady meit 1533 Id. Livy I. 30/15.
Attoure, to meis the haterent of thir revist virginis, come plesandlie thare new luffaris 1603 Philotus clix.
Let vs foure luferis now rejoyse c1600 Montg. Suppl. ix. 85. c1600 Ib. xxvii. 12.
Ȝour lufair trew(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 4.
My hwny [etc.] … , I haue bene lang ȝour luifar leill 1535 Stewart 35826. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1040, 1592.
Luiferis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3260.
For hir luifar scho send incontinent 1560 Ib. 3279, 10312. a1570-86 Scott Maitland Folio MS xciii. 1.
Ȝe blindit luiffarris a1570-86 Maitland a1570-86 Ib. xxxi. 17. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 140. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 41.
Scho … now of hir awin accord offeris him ane luifer 1572 Ib. 143.
Aganis the maist faithfull luifer that ever ȝe had a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xl. Title.
Ane ballat to be songe with the tuine of Luifer come to luiferis dore &c.a1585 Ib. xxxviii. 70.
Luifarisa1585 Ib. lxvi. 26.
Luiffaris1570 Satirical Poems xxiv. 2.
Luiffarisa1605 Montg. Misc. P. l. 1.
Luiffarisa1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 140.
Luifferis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 271, 273, 283, etc. (Ch.).(c)a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi. 455.
He … hyre enbrasit with al his macht As lyffaris that had hene in-twyne
3. One who is attached to or holds dear (a principle or the like).a1400 Legends of the Saints xl. 723.
Sancte Ninian … Lofare of vertu & dyspysare Of the warld a1500 Bk. Chess 98.
Ane philosophour … [which] all was one to saye The lufffer of mesour and of justis 1533 Bell. Livy II. 97/1.
Tha that maid Amilius thryis dictator ar bettir luffaris of the commoun weill than thai that [etc.] 1533 Boece ii. xi. 80. 1560 Buke of Discipline in Knox II. 237.
Luifaris 1587 Bk. Islay 87.
Be the gude advise of sic of his counsall as ar … luffearis of the common quietnes within his realme 1594 Criminal Trials I. ii. 338. 1622-6 Bisset II. 181/17.
Luifare of justice
4. One who is devoted to (literature, music).a1538 Abell 10 b.
Study & buykis lufar wes Tholome Philodelf c1615 Chron. Kings 19.
He wes ane grit luiffar of musik
