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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.

Lat, n. Also: late, latt. [Sc. var. of Let n.]The earlier rhymes al require the form let.

1. Hindrance, obstruction; a hindrance or impediment.(1) Brus xii. 516 (C).
Mony gud man … [was] slane, … Bot the remanant … For that lat [E. let] maid rycht no stynting a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 462.
Scho on it [a hot plate] with fet bare But abaysing it ouremet, Vnhurt or hafand ony lat c1420 Ratis R. 1418.
Be scho nocht swa, thar beis a lat And jugment beis al forȝet 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 340.
The noblis … passand to battale suld nocht vse na superfluite in thar clething … for sic thing causis lat and impediment a1500 Lanc. 958.
Deth or other lat certan 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 330.
[If any] lat [come on your side, let us know, as we look for] nayn 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 169.
That the evangle … may … be propogat, without lat, hinderance and impediment 1585 James VI Ess. 74.
Flee ydilteth, which is the greatest lat [: that, destinat] 1615 Stirling B. Rec. I. 138.
[The] counsall … knawis weill … quhat hinder & latt the best workis of this burgh did ressaue by the … alteratioun of thair auld forme of governament 1615 Bk. Islay 296.
He wald be loathe that ony of his trauellis sould be ony latt or hinder to the Lairdis doingis 1618 Lett. Eccl. Aff. II. 574.
Your Maiesties … defence of the true religion … had incensed the Papists to think your Maiestie the onlie lat of thair prevailing 1622-6 Bisset II. 356/17.
I could have fund in my hairt … to distroy the Jowes … war nocht the Romane Emperiour wes a lat to my purpois(2) 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 421/2.
That nane of ȝow tak apone hand to mak ony stop, lat, truble or impediment to the said Patryk or his werkmen 1573 Douglas Chart. (Reg. H.) 9 Nov.
To mak ony impediment, lat or distribulance to the said Robert Coluile … in the peecabill bruking … of the landis 1583 Misc. Spald. C. II. 340.
Ony lat, stop or distrublance … in the peceabill brouking … of the escheat guidis

2. Hesitation or delay. Chiefly in phrases with but (bott). = Let n. 2.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i. 149.
Thai … bwt mare late Ane cheare mad, and thar-in sete Sanct Petir Ib. iv. 344.
A fel dragon com tham till … Bot thai the croice before tham set And he bristit but langar lat Ib. xviii. 596.
In the tempil enterit ilkane But ony late bot I alane 1535 Stewart 11837.
Thairfoir but lat, that tyme he wes nocht lidder 15.. Lichtoun Bann. MS. 48 a/31.
Thairfoir but latt I pray thé purches grace c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiii. 93.
Than I in haist, bott ony latt [: gett] Sall plaige ȝow for inequitie(2) 1535 Stewart 12528.
Without lachin he maid na langar lat