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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1456, 1513-1567, 1655-1667
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Lasch(e, Lach(e, adj. Also: lashe. [ME. lache (Chaucer), lasche (Prompt. Parv.), e.m.E. lash(e, OF. lasche (F. lâche): (Cf. Lache v.2 and Lachesse n.).In Hay, also printed lathe.]
1. Slack, negligent, remiss.(a) 1456 Hay I. 243/30.
Gif a king be a rigorous man [etc.] … , bot and he be lache [pr. lathe] and our settand and favourable in punycion of mysdoaris [etc.] 1456 Ib. II. 36/24.
That he nouthir excede, na be our lache in his dede 1456 Ib. 49/31.
For our grete doute makis knychtis to have lache [pr. lathe] curage 1456 Ib. 58/25.
He is nouthir lache na ȝit cowart(b) 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 123/13.
I laubyr … to neureis lasche and inutil idil men 1549 Ib. 146/18.
Thai that var lasche couuardis gat nothing 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I. 261.
Quhen soevir ye may recover the name of ane honest man, quhilk be your lasche deid ye haif lost 1567 Satirical Poems v. 64.
Sen God hes to ȝow power lent, Gif ye be lashe ye ar to blame 1655 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 234.
The baxteris … mak the citie ane commoun vpcast to all nychtbouris … through ther lasch cariage in baiking of the said bread 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 140.
The hors … was as great as a coach hors, but the most lasche jadde that ever any man crossed
2. Physically slack or relaxed.a1400 Legends of the Saints xl. 1308.
Mystrowand He wald gif me mycht Thi lach [pr. lath] lymmys [sc. of a paralysed man] for to rycht1513 Doug. ix. xiii. 80.
Hys wery breist and lymmys lasch
