Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ourluke, v. Also: owr- and -luik. [Sc. var. of Overluke v. Also e.m.E. (Margaret Tudor) owr loke (1524).]

1. a. To fail to take action against, allow to go unchecked or unpunished, connive at (a wrong or wrong-doer). b. To tolerate (a person) doing, suffer (a person) to do, something irregular.a. (1) 1527 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I. xxiii.
Thar mysdedis … sumtymis … ar ourlukyt and lattin pass but redres 1532 Douglas Corr. 349.
We … hes patientlie ourlukeit the samyne odious injuris and wrangis to ȝour returnyng 1543–4 Hamilton P. II. 249.
Understanding that divers grete and wechti materis … hes bene ourlukit(2) 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 516.
Seing the saidis rebellis ourlukit and winkit atb. 1459 Liber Aberbr. II. 107.
Owr predecessoris owrlukyt and tholyt the smyth tull byg ane smyde in the moss becaus of his … fuell that was necessar to his office

c. To fail to attend to, neglect, ignore. — 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3765 (B).
Becaus the commoun weill hes bene ourlukit

2. To take care of, oversee. 1610 Inverurie B. Ct. 20 Apr.
Quha that ourluikis the scheip quhill eftir sone rysing & the scheip fund in the corne to be poyndit fortie s. the peice