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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, adv. Also: laiche, laych, laigh, laygh, leache. [f. Laicha. Cf. Lach, Lauch and Law.Sometimes with t for c: cf. the note to Laicha.]

1. In or to a low position, in senses of Laich a. 2–3.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1719.
Now as hillis hie it schawis Now set laich with ane nothir skift
15.. King Berdok 37.
Thay stellit gunis to the killogy laich [: daich]
1558–9 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 30.
The eucharist … , hingand abone ane hart set with perle [etc.] … , and hingand laych ane lytill hart of gold [etc.]
1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxv.
The piet and papingo, … laich thay did doun licht
1600 Crim. Trials II. 183.
Fy! Strik him laich becaus he hes ane pyne doulit upoun him
1600-1610 Melvill 169.
About the sun drawing leache
c 1660–70 Sel. Biog. I. 270.
Creep laigh and slow like a snail
(2) c1420 Wynt. iv. 2355 (W).
He … held dovne The tother lap thare of his govne Behind him laygh [v.rr. lauch, lawche]
Ib. v. 5421.
That ilk takin he saw sone Lyand layth [v.rr. lauch, lawche] vnder that place
a1500 Henr. Fab. 958.
His hude he drew laich attour his ene
1560 Rolland Seven S. 5085.
[Hidden] Laich in the eird, and sum thay sank in sykis
1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. i. 165.
Laich at the fute of the craig
a1568 Scott v. 45.
Archeris will … schute … Sum at the reveris, sum at the prikkis, Sum laich and to beneth the clais
a1570-86 Balnavis Maitl. F. cxxix. 98.
Suppois scho ryse Rycht laych vndir thi fute
a1586 Lindsay MS. 3.
Thai that beiris thair pointeris within the listis suld baire thame layche on syde
1590 Burel Pilgr. i. iii.
Beists of diuers kynds, Laich on the ground, richte lawly lay
1638 Henderson Serm. 315.
When God brings down the wicked … and lays them down laigh in the dust
(3) 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV. 356.
[To] burdyn the said complenair that duellis laich in Buchane with the disobedience of ony brokin men of the surename of Forbes [residing in Mar]
(4) 1553–4 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 25.
Clainging of the gutteris laith about the kirk
1579 Edgar Hist. Dumfries Notes 148.
[There were] slittis maid laich throw the same hous [sc. prison] to let in the air
1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 349.
Laich in a lymbus, whair they lay
1585 Acts III. 375/2.
The constable [of Scotland] … satt laich doun in the parliament hous
1625 Glasg. B. Rec. I. 347.
Libertie to put out lichtis … of the … qualitie following, viz. laiche on the eard to put out oyes ane or ma within ane fute to the laich geistis or of that heicht gif thai geist nocht thair houssis
(5) 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 40.
To mak thair repentance … laich on the kirk flure
1628 Ib. 254.
The Sessioun ordeins him to mak his repentance laigh the next day
1630 Ib. 308.
[To] mak her repentance laigh, because it was hir first fault
1638 Henderson Serm. 318.
It were meeter for him to stay down laigh in the body of the kirk
1659 Rothesay Par. Rec. 10.
That ther be ane commone loft builded and that these who have ther rowmes designed laigh beare burthen with the rest in building the loft
Ib.
Ther priviledge of haveing a seat laigh
(6) 1612 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 326.
For sand and lyme for laying of this foirsaid pavement with the schemley heich and laiche

2. (To bow or stoop) low. In lit. and also fig. contexts. Cf. Law adv. 2. a1500 Seven S. 738.
He … bad his newo laigh dovne lowte
a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. cxxxvii. 20.
Sum bekis full laich [B. law] and schawis bair heidis Wald luke full heich war not the Sessioun
c1610 Melville Mem. 261.
And vthers … cam in and flatterit him, and bekkit wery laich to him, callen him ‘your grace’ at ilk word
1635 Dickson Wr. 127.
He must lout laigh ere he win so high
1686 Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 8.
And aye the laigher that we jowkt The higher up went we

3. Low in respect of precedence or seniority. 1596 Dalr. I. 223/25.
Quhen thay al satt doune to the table, that na man war proud … or began to invie gif he saw him selfe set laicher than he walde, he caused a round table … be maid
1664 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 212.
And to doe euerie wther thing relateing to his charge and abilitie as doctor, both high and laich in the said schooll

4. fig. Low in respect of rank, fortune or estimation. 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II. 192.
[For she is not] sa laich borne of hir self nor yit hes sa small moyens in other partes
1596 Dalr. II. 2/17.
How sair he was opprest in the Inglis weiris, and how laich was brocht
Ib. 181/3.
To … had doun his … coragious spirit with sharp … wordes or at leist to halde him laich, till him he directs Clarentse [etc.]
a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) No. 680.
Over heigh, over laich
Ib. MS. No. 741.
He looks not so laich
1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 6.
He that mounts higher then he aucht falls laigher then he wald

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"Laich adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/laich_adv>

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