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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.

Last, a. and adv. Also: laste; laist. [ME. last(e (Layamon), early lattst (Orm), latst (12th c.), beside latest (c 1200), OE. latost, Angl. lætest, superl. of læt adj. (Lat), late adv. (Late).]

A. adj. 1. The last in a series or succession, the final.(a) 1386 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 9.
To the last day of May next comand Ib.
In the last yhere of xiiij yhere trewes c1515 Asl. MS. I. 330/13.
Now we are in the vj age last & nixt effor the day of jugement 1531 Bell. Boece I. 107.
To jeoperd the realme to the last chance of battall 1562–3 Rec. Earld. Orkney 114.
To his last wyf, Janote Skaye Ib. 115.
Swa ar the ayris of the fyrst get cleyrlye owtred of thayre fathyre arff frome the ayris of the last get 1592 Acts III. 627/1.
Compleit generall and last reuocatioun 1640 Mouswald Kirk S. MS. 1 July.
Tuelffe sondays … the first and last quhairof they stand at the kirk doore betwixt the ring of the first bell and the last(b) 1571 Canongate Ct. Bk. 331.
The last point of hir eik, … the said laist point of the said Jonetis eik to hir probatioun 1604 Stewart Mem. 109.
The laist day off December

b. absol. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 933.
Of the twa last spek me ne list, Bot I will say more of the firste 1513 Doug. v. iv. 43.
Heir first gude hope arays to the twa last [in the race] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 28.
The last and worst is callit Melancoly(b) a1568 Scott xii. 51.
It is bot waist Mo wirdis to taist, Ȝe haif my laist

c. Last of all, aw, All a. 4; all thir last, Alther (3).

d. ? Remotest, rearmost; (but ? la(we)st lowest, Law a.). 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 106.
We thocht it best to assay it at the same part, … which is the last pairt, called the Beike

2. The last remaining. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2051.
Ideas, the fare of face, And Cassamus sat all the last Ib. 4310.
The archeris formest wald be in the fecht, And last at parting a1500 Colk. Sow iii. 148.
The thrid penny this was and the last caice

b. Last air, heir(e, rendering L. ultimus hæres.See also 1681 Stair Inst. iii. iii. 47, iv. xiii.(1) 14.. Reg. Maj. ii. § 55 (Stair Soc., p. 164).]
[De ultimis heredibus … Ultimi heredes aliquorum sunt eorum domini; etc. c1575 Balfour Pract. 232.
The last air to ony persoun deceissand is his over-lord; for quhen ony person deceissis without ony certane air, … the over-lord … may put his handis to the landis and retene thame as his eschete 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 40.
The over-lords of ilke man are their last heires (bot be common consuetude and vse, onely the King is last heire) 1681 Stair Inst. iv. xiii.
The King's right, as last heir, befalls when a defunct dies, to whom none can be entered heir of line or blood, or executor upon that title(2) 1501 Acta Conc. III. 37.
Quhairthrow the sade landis … is his [Archibald's] eschete as last aire and owrelord til the sade umquhile Jhone, be vertew of the lawis of the realm contenit in the secund part of the buke of maieste in the lxxxviij cheptere de ultimis heredibus 1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 693.
His Hienes and Counsale willis to be diligentlie sichtit and cairfullie considerit be his haill Counsale … all recognicionis, dispositionis of landis falling be forfaltour or last air 1587 Acts III. 441/2.
Tenendriis haldin of vther superiouris becuming in our handes be escheit, as last air, be foirfaltour standand or be bastardie 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 254.
In sa far as his majestie hes … richt to the saidis landis … as apperand air of bluid … or as haveing rycht thairto be bastardrie last air or vtherwayes 1654 Acts VI. ii. 817/2.
That all forfeitures, escheats, simple or of life rent, bastardy, and last heir, … shall from henceforth … forfeit to the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth 1696 Ib. X. 99/1.]
[The lands … did fall and become in his Majesties hands as ultimus heres by the laws and practique of this kingdom

3. Belonging to the end or final stage. a. Of anything. c1420 Wynt. ii. 860.
In the fyrst buk, gvffe that yhe Wele nere the last end rede and se

b. Of the world. 1456 Hay I. 15/15.
The last tromp, that is, the last beme Ib. 74/13.
The last jugement 1533 Gau 52/11.
The last day of dume a1658 Durham Blessedness Death 40.
These four things that are called mans last things, Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell

c. Of one's life.Cf. Latter a. 1b.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii. 333.
The last wnctyowne a1450 Fifteen Ois 19.
Quhan that the last supper wes maid a1500 K. Hart 771.
In ȝour last dayis ȝe may your self avance 1513 Doug. xi. xv. 139.
The cald deith and last stondis mortall 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 283.
Johne Knox … earnestlie desyred the kirke … that he mycht bid thaim his last guidnycht 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI. 232.
The last hour … abyding the will … of Father, Sone and Haly Ghoist, he makis his testament 1622-6 Bisset II. 86/6.
Be the law of the realme … ane mannis last will and desyre suld be … frie anent the dispositioun of his guidis(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2660.
Richt to the last end of his lyfe c1420 Wynt. v. 4367.
Off hys dede and hys last end, I fand na wryt a1500 K. Hart 906.
I leif to thé at my last ende, Of fantasie ane fostill

4. That occurred next before the time in question or next before the time of writing or speaking; most recent (point of time, period, occasion, event).(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 2037.
Syne the tyme before than last, That he had fra his fadyr past 1584 St. A. Test. II. 49.
Ane boll of beir sawin … in beirseid tyme last 1595 Misc. Spald. C. II. 131.
Fra Sonday last 1662 Highland P. III. 20.
About a fourtnight afore halountayd last(b) 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 3 Oct.
Since Satturday laist(2) 1575 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 122.
Within thir ten last dayis 1597 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 164 b.
Ane kow quhilk he gaif him in hyregang the last ȝeir 1679 Corshill Baron Ct. 149.
The fier meall … for this last terme indew(3) 1471 Acta Aud. 19/1.
The said James maid nane innouatioune sen the last decrete c1500-c1512 Dunb. liv. 3.
Ane blak … That landet furth of the last schippis c1500 Interl. Droich 127.
With this last eistin wynd, I am cum heir perdie 1547 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 255.
Follouand the … outrunin of thair last generale assedatioun 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 99.
To quhome it wes that scho buir the last barne unto 1584 Gowrie P. 41.
Being weikned throught chyld last delyverie 1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 62.
At ȝour maiesties last being in Abirdene 1596 Dalr. I. 16/9.
Johne, the last archie bischope of Sanct Androis(b) 1635 Black Bk. Taymouth 441.
My gouid payment for my laist imployment

b. ? Recently deceased. 1684 Kingarth Par. Rec. 141.
It was on the day Ambusmore last was buried

c. That has been mentioned most recently, the latter. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3573.
All war him leuer haue had the last 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 7.
The alderman … deliuerit thir last twa sowmis abowyn writtyn 1533 Bell. Livy I. 224/21.
Baith thir twa last consullis … war haldin as cryminabill afore the pepil 1557 Reg. Cupar A. II. 166.
That this last claus haif strenth … as it war insert in the body of this lettre 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 246.
Bot haid not bene the last skirmeis wes in the nycht, thair wald have bene ane infinite slauchter 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 488.
The Kirk, in this last sence, hes ane certane power grantit be God 1623 Melrose P. 501.
The last tua will … begin thair iornay within eyght dayes

B. absol. as n. 5. The last day (of the month specified).(1) 1584 Waus Corr. 313.
The best halk … can nocht be reddy … afoir the last of this moneth 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 40.
Upone Sunday the last of Marche under sylance of nycht 1599 Elgin Rec. II. 76.
This tyme quhilk is superstitiouslie keipitt fra the xxv day of December to the last of Januar nixt thaireftir 1619 Sel. Biog. (W.S.) I. 100.
He began to kyth his sickness the first of March, and departed the last of March(2) 1622 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 138 b (31 July).
The sessioun of Fraserburche hauldin Julij the last 1622 c1680 W. Row Blair 569.
June last a proclamation [made] 1692 Rothesay B. Rec. 485.
Adjournes the rouping of the customes till Moonday being the last October instant … Moonday last October … the same is rouped

6. At the last, at last, the last, = in the end, finally, ultimately, eventually, at last.(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 418.
Jamys of Dowglas, at the last, Fand a litill sonkyn bate Ib. xv. 84.
At the last helit wes he a1400 Leg. S. vii. 782.
The Jowis … In til a cawe me closit faste, Lokit & celyt at the laste c1420 Wynt. viii. 1021.
For this as scho fraynyd fast, He consentyd at the last ?1438 Alex. ii. 108.
His anger thrang his hart sa fast, His vissage blaknit at the last a1500 Henr. Fab. 532.
At the last his sinnes can him leid To schamefull end Ib. 2244.
The oxin eirit mair reullie at the last c1515 Asl. MS. I. 257/26.
Kenneth the secund … was … hatit with mony and at the last … he was tratorisly slane a1568 Bann. MS. 135 a/52.
A byle that is lang beilit Brekis at the last a1578 Pitsc. I. 49/1.
Quhill at the last the schereff was wictor 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 505.
What clocked knaverie he convoyes … It comes to licht now at the last a1605 Montg. Misc. P. vii. 36.
Rome … wes compleitit at the last 1601 Elphinstone Mun. 31.
The quene of England … hathe spoone a faire thredde to putte herself … in hazart to lose … Irelande at the laste(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 366.
Gyrned syne atte last [v.r. at the last] Inne ȝharnynge of the golde so rede c1420 Ratis R. 1581.
Sum men mycht argew atte last And pruf with resone his entent c1460 Consail Vys Man 170.
For atte last lawte is kend(2) ?1438 Alex. ii. 2180.
Thay bourded and gamed fast, Thare speche ordaned thay at last 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 39.
Proces of tyme at last hes … send ws help 1560 Rolland Seven S. 610.
Sa at last come in the Empreour 1562-3 Winȝet II. 26/20.
At last quhat wes the strenthe of that counsel or decre of Aphrik? 1567 Sat. P. v. 67.
Thocht he fra hoill to hoill do fle, At last he can not weill eschew 1668-9 J. Fraser Lawfulness of Separation 42.
Here is a fine knack at last, and pretty busked notion indeed(3) a1578 Pitsc. I. 35/4.
[They] maid greit laubouris … to bring them to peace and concord whill the last they brocht them togither in S. Geillis kirk

C. adv. 7. At the latest time, after all others, at the end, finally. 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
To tha trewis first & last takyn c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 3071.
It that was ekit last, I afferme nocht to be suthfast c1420 Wynt. iv. 312.
Quhat kyne fine Last suld fall off that discorde 1573 Sat. P. xli. 115.
Sanctandrois … first in thé he gaue the rout Till Antechrist, … Bot last, of Edinburgh exprest, … He come to thé by all the rest a1578 Pitsc. I. 77/17.
Ȝe wald schaw ȝour selffis na war myndit in the correctioun of theiffis … nor ȝe haue provin walieȝeantlie baitht first and last for the defence … of this realme a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1460.
The young guse to the old can say, see thé last at Lammas day

8. Most lately, most recently. Freq. (the event or date) that last wes.(1) 1560–61 Inverness Rec. I. 51.
Ane chalmyr [in the] kyr[k]yard quhilk his broder … deyt last west and sesit in 1680 Cullen B. Rec. 20 (4 May).
Nearest and laufull air to … his father who dyed last west and seasit in the lands 1695 S. Ronaldshay 65.
What effect the affair we ware last about is lyke to tack(2) 1398 Acts I. 212/1.
In the tyme of gude memor kyng Robert that last deit 1460 Stewart Mem. 64.
The erle of Craufurde that last dissesyt(3) 1398 Acts I. 212/2.
The statut made at Perth in Auril that last wes 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 73.
At the parliament that last wes 1511 Rentale Dunkeld. 97.
Deliuerit … the x day of October that last wes 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 198.
Eftir the terme of Witsonday that last wes 1531–2 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 60.
He maid … fyve makings of malt sen Mertymes that last wes(4) 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. fol. 24 a.
The quhilk ȝer was completit at Mychelmes at last past

b. With ellipsis of the relative: (The date, period of time, event) last wes (was), also last passit.(1) 1531–2 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 53.
The allegationes allegit be hym the xj day of Januar last vas 1558 Inverness Rec. I. 20.
On Furisday last wes 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 227.
Mutuall promys of mariage mayd … at Cayr Sunday last wes 1565 Inverness Rec. I. 127.
At Maremes and the Rudemes last was 1579–80 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 101.
Ȝour promeis quhilk wes … to haif brocht with ȝow the hail Androsmes termes last was 1580 Rec. Earld. Orkney 150.
Tua protestationis maid in jugement at the Harmansteine last ves 1581 Lanark B. Rec. 81.
Befoir Beltein las[t] wes, … the said Hew pindit my kow 1583 St. A. Kirk S. II. 515.
Thai … playit in the golf feildis Sonday last wes 1585 Crim. Trials I. ii. 140.
October, Nouember, December and in the monethis of … Januare lastwas 1597 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 153.
The wrangus awaytaking … of ane forrow kow about pasche last wes 1598 Crim. Trials II. 61.
Befoir Setterday lastwas 1606 Orkney & Sh. Rec. I. 274.
To stand quhill Alhallowmes last wes and na forder(2) 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/1.]
[To Candelmas day last passyt 1562-3 Winȝet I. 23/5.
The seditious calking … on Pasche Monunday last passit

c. Last bypast, bypassit, see also Bypast p.p. 1 a, Bypassit p.p. 1 (3); also last bygayne, last befoir.(1) 1531–2 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 55.
Occupeit … be the space of tuay ȝeris last by past 1539 Crim. Trials I. i. 252.
The slaughter … committed eleven years lastbypast in the burgh of Edinburgh 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 194.
Laitlie within thir viij dayis lastbipast 1709 Rothesay Par. Rec. 266.
Upon the last day of Aprile last bypast(2) 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. fol. 115 b.
Sic lyk as the act proportis in the cowrt last by gayne(3) c 1566 Fife Sheriff Ct. 407.
The haill rolment … of the last court haldin last befoir