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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lai, Lay, a. Also: laii; ley. (Late adoption of e.m.E. and ME. lay(e, laie, F. lai. (Earlier and much commoner are Lawit and Laic.)]Secular, lay.(a) 1596 Dalr. I. 106/21.
Priestes quha may to the lai peple … minister the blist sacrament ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I. 99.
Thes ruling elders … are not to be founde in scripture … except yow tacke the worde elder in scripture to signifie lay elders Ib. 120.
The number of lay voices … must exceed the number of the ministers ther voices 1633 (1711) Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. 82.
The vicarages some of them are in the hands of lay-vicars, or of the ministers themselves 1666–71 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 351.
Bishops are the only patrons whose servants have fees for presentations … whereas they are freely granted by lay patrons 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. ii. 41.
As lawful as is Lay-elder-Presbyterian classis(b) a1578 Pitsc. II. 68/8.
Thow … hast said that evirie ley man is ane preist

b. Belonging to the lower orders. 1596 Dalr. I. 116/5.
Thay [were] called commoune or lai people, gif thay war vndir the digrie of gentilnes Ib. 166/2.
The noble men frome al partes cumis rinning till him, sa did the laii people daylie