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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.

Laich, n.¹ Also: laiche, laicht, laych(t, laigh. [f. Laich,a. Cf. Lauch(e.]In a few instances it is not clear whether the form laich(e belongs here (sense 1) or with Lech(e n.: see Laich,n.²

1. A stretch of low-lying ground, esp. near or among hills or high ground. Common in place-names.(1) 1539 Bk. Carlaverock II. 468.
Vndoutit balȝes of our … lands … and of the laychtis liand in the stewartry of Kirkcudbrycht 1570 Reg. Morton I. 59.
[Earl of Argyll to the Laird of Lochleven]: We desire … that ye will stand as ane menteiner of our tennentis and puiranis in the laiche 1582 Edinb. Test. X. 327.
Thomas Johnestoun … sal haif and vse ane pece of land of the croftheid fra the laych vp a 1627 Craig v. 5/16.
Mee thought in a laigh lay a cleare streame, a strand 1684 Greyfriars Interments 99.
[Robert Cader, flesher,] wast laig [sic] 1691 Ib. 5.
[James Adamson,] west laigh(2) 1513–14 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 8.
For all the laich of Murray my Lord of Huntlie 1576 (1627) Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 359.
The Laigh of Marr and Garrioch … , the High of Marr and Garrioch c1615 Chron. Kings 119.
The Regent … rydis throw Anendeill … and the laich of Galloway

2. The lower part of a garment. a. Laich of hois, a stocking (= F. bas de chausses). b. The skirt or flap (of a coat).a. 1543 Treas. Acc. MS. 30 b.
For ane elne of blak stemmyng to be tua pair of laichis of hois to my lord governour 1547–8 Ib. (ed.) IX. 141.
v quarteris blak to be thair laithes [sic in pr.] of hoisb. 1561 Inv. Mary 45.
A half of the laich of a coit … figurit with scaillis

3. The lowest position, as at ground level; the lowest part (or point) of anything, the bottom. 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 173.
Tua lang geistis in the clois serving to heis peceis frome on the laicht to the heicht 1663 Rothesay B. Rec. 299.
Robert Mwir to mak ane bak of ane fute at the laiche and half a fute at the top