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.
Lach(e)and, ppl. a. Also: (lathand, laithand, lethand, leithand.) [f. Lach(e v.2 (and cf. lache Lasch a.). Also in the mod. dial. as latching ‘lazy, indolent’. The th spellings are most prob. editorial misreadings for ch, and those in e, ei perh. also misread for a.] Lagging, tardy, negligent.a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 486.
Machore … reprowyt the mastir man Of his tary & his slawnes That he to saile sa lethand [sic] wes c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 61/18.
Ane persone suld nocht be lathand to torne to God Ib. 72/3.
Beand swere and lathand to gud werkis and reddy to do evill 1533 Bell. Livy I. 133/10.
Brutus … thocht na thing apperit mare sikkir than haisty … weris approcheand be the Tarquinis ȝit the samyn was mare laitheand [sic; B. lacheand] than it semyt 1535 Stewart 28808.
Adanus … Accusit hes thair [the captains'] negligence richt sair, … That scharpliar wald nocht thair fa persew, Leithand [sic] wes thair awin folkis to reskew Ib. 37975.
This Fothadus that litill rest than tuke, … in the tyme wes nocht leithand nor lidder Quhill [etc.]
