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.

Lang, v.¹ [North. ME. lang, midl. and south. longe(n, OE. langian (lǫngian). Cf. Long v.¹]

1. To long, to yearn, to be desirous or impatient. a. tr., To long to or for to (till) do something; also const. noun clause and simple object.(1) a1500 Henr. Twa Mys 17.
Scho … langit for [v.r. sar] to heir of hir weilfair c1475 Wall. ii. 78.
Sar he langit to se the toune of Ayr 1513 Doug. iv. ii. 55. Ib. vi. x. 110.
Gif ȝour mynd langis to haue presens Of Anchises Ib. viii. Prol. 137.
Sum langis for the leffyr ill to lyk of a quart Ib. 143.
I lang to haue our buke done 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III. 33.
[I have] verilie langit to heir from your self a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 163 (W).
I langit in luiffis bowe to schuite 1610 Burnett of Leys 209.
Althoe I langed geytlye to writt yet I co uld neuer find the occasione(2) 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 70.
Ascanyus … Now prekis furth … Langyng … The fomy bair … Or the dun lyoun discend, recontyr he mycht Ib. viii. Prol. 133.
Quhat maste langis thou?

b. intr., To yearn efter or for something or someone.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 5 (M ).
Sair I langit eftir the dayis licht 1513 Doug. ix. iv. 65.
Langyng ful sair eftir hys hame cummyng 1580 Inverness Rec. I. 280.
Quhen the said Isabell langit efter thair cuming wyth sum grayth, scho said to them, ye ar bot puir theiffis(2) 1603 Wemyss Corr. 57.
Seing our people hear langis na lesse for our dearest bedfellow the Quene … than for ourselff 1600-1610 Melvill 81.
Whill all ar gasing and langing for the play, in stappes Schipper Lindsay [etc.]

c. absol. To be full of longing. 1513 Doug. iv. ii. 62.
Within hir chalmyr alane scho langis sayr And thocht al waist for lak of hir luffar

2. tr. To require (an answer). c 1401 Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.) 210.
Sendis us word and we sal late hym wit, and gif it langis ansuer we sal ger send it yhu