A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1585
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Lach(e, Laich, v.2 Also: laych, lech and Leach. [North. ME. (a 1400) lache tr. to neglect, e.m.E. (1530, 1607) latch(e intr. to lag, loiter, and in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial. as latch, laitch, OF. lascher (F. lâcher) : cf. lache Lasch adj. Also Lachin(g vbl. n., Leach v., and Leichfull, Leichfulnes adj. and n., and see Lach(e)and ppl. adj. and note to it. On the other hand it is possible that some of the instances of this group, and perh. particularly some of those spelled e, ei, may represent early ME. leðien, leoðien v., ME. leþ(e, mod. north. Eng. dial. leath. tr. to mitigate, soften, relax, intr. to cease, abate, north. ME. lething vbl. n. cessation, rest: of the corresponding noun, early ME. leð (12th c.), leoð, ME. leth, north. e.m.E. and mod. north. and midl. Eng. dial. leath, cessation, intermission, rest, there appears to be no trace in Scots.] tr. and intr. To neglect, delay; to lag, loiter; to be or become slack or remiss. —1513 Doug. xii. x. 146.
[He] mony tymys hym selvyn hes accusyt, That he sa lang had lachit [R. laychit] and reffusyt To ressaue glaidly the Troiane Ene 1535 Stewart 44377.
No tarie [he] maid nor ȝit lechit [pr. lethit] rycht lang a1568 Bannatyne MS 221 b/26.
Quhyll hait quhyll cald that lachis [pr. lathis] my luving a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxxxiv. 6.
Efter reading twyis Laich [pr. Laith] not to read it thryis
