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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
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Lauchful(l, Lachful(l, a. (and adv.). Also: lachfule, laichfull, laychfull; lauche-, lawch-, laugh-, (lauh-, laug-,) lawghful(l, -lulle; lacht-, laucht-, lawcht-, laughtfull. [North. ME. laghful, f. Lauch n.1 Before the 17th c.much the commoner Sc. form: cf. Lawfull.]

1. Sanctioned or permitted by law, according to law.(1) 1413 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 364.
He beand in lachfull possession sal resigne the sayde landys in the handis off the our lord
1422 Fam. Rose 125.
With our help, suppouel, and manetenance in al your lachful and levefulerandis in al tyme to cum
1438 Lennox Mun. 69.
That aythyr off thaim sall be wyth othyr in assistans, all caus, help and suple, lachfull and honest
1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 33.
[They] war in lachfull possessioune of commounte of the saidis landis
(b) 14.. Acts I. 10/2.
That nane wythschaipe … tha mutis … except for an manifest and lauchful caus
Ib. 42/2.
Gif he has ony othir land wyth the quhilk he may mak lauchful dower
1437 Reg. Dunferm. 285.
Bath the partis sel kepe lauchful stent & noth excede
1464 Liber Aberbr. 141.
The Kyng … ratifis … the occupacioune of the said Kingis Mor … as lauchfule and rychtwis
1468 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 6.
Thai sal supple lauchfull and honest defens of thare lifis, landis, heretage
1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 199.
The saidis maister Alexander … protestit that he micht hef lauchfull cause … to oppone & declyne the juge
1558-66 Knox I. 143.
The Quene, … promised favouris in all his lauchfull suyttis to wemen
1615 Highland P. III. 198.
That the Chanceller sould tak his defence in all his lauchfull adois
1622-6 Bisset II. 148/12.
It is baith godlie, lauchfull and necessar
1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 34.
To try and informe thameselffis by the most indifferent and laughfull meanis thay can of the estait of ilk paroche
1670 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 259.
The hous … wher Walter Robertsone, one of the baillies, were present about thair lauchfull affaires
(c) 1522 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 99.
A souer certification of the lordis quhidder gif the said schip was lauchtfull price or nocht
1559 Cal. Sc. P. I. 220.
Your gentle behaviour … in all things lawchtfull, honest & godlie
1603 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 93.
Ȝour industrie … in seiking and following furth all laughtfull treadis
1609 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 181.
People with out ony … lauthfull meanes to leif by
(2) 14.. Acts I. 24/2.
It is lachfull and lefull [360/2, lauchtfull and leiffull thing] till ilke burges to geyff or sell his lande
1500 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 633.
It sal be lesum and lauchfule to the said Dauid Rate … to tell and nowmer the said sowm
1562-3 Winȝet I. 89/10.
As we grant it lauchful … that mony wald … resaue the haly sacrament of the altar … togidder with the preist
Ib. II. 63/23.
To be as a maist praisit and a lauchful thing that euir thai reiose in prophane nouelties
1592 Acts III. 544/1.
It sall not be lauchfull to hir to dispone the same
1609 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 176.
I do not hold it laugfull, … to give the Pope any obedience therein

b. Legally or rightfully possessed. 1503 Acts II. 243/2.
That scho suld nocht have ane lachtfull terce
c1575 Balfour Pract. 523.
Alledging that the samin was his lauchful and hamehald cattel

2. Legal; as appointed by, or in accordance with, the law; legally valid; according to correct legal procedure.(a) 1405 Maxwell Mem. I. 145.
The forsaide Erle sal … conferme the forsaidis … of the landis … in lachful forme
1460 Peebles B. Rec. 137.
At that sessyn … was na sessyn lachful bot intrussioun
1463 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II. 472.
[The sum] was nocht lachful na sufficiande to pas for payment
1464 Fam. Innes 78.
To you … I gyf and committis my ful fre lachful playn and vnreuocabul powar in that part
1466 Acta Aud. 5/2.
That … the summondis is nocht lachfull nor of avale
1494 Lennox Mun. 152.
Ane lachfull dispensation to legittimate the matrimone
(b) 1381 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 4.
Withoutyn lawchfull processe of law
14.. Acts I. 51/2.
That na man by ony manner of gudis bot gif he haf tharof lauchful borch of hlmehald
Ib. 379/2.
Lke soytour in court is … bundyn be the gret athe swthfast dome to gyff and lawchfull at his cunnyng
c1420 Ratis R. 1542.
Lauchful or evyne pwniscioune May thaim assith be na resone
1485–6 Prot. Bk. J. Young (S.R.S.) 9.
That the parti schew na lauchful compromise nother subscrivit with the clerkis hand nor selit with the parteis selis
1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 265/2.
Ay and quhil the lauchful entre of the ȝongest dochter
1533 Bell. Livy I. 76/7.
I decerne … all thir iniuris … to be recoverit with iust & lauchful batall
1535 Stewart 55589.
The quhilk wedding wes lauchfull probatioun Of his barnis legitimatioun
1564 Peebles B. Rec. 297.
That na persoun ly out … wythout thay haif ane lauhfull assonye
1562-3 Winȝet I. 15/18.
Quharin apperis the lauchfull ordination of ministeris?
1571 Crim. Trials I. ii. 28.
That this cawtioune prejuge him nocht anent his laughfull defenssis
1610 Ib. III. 83.
Quhilk band the said erle hes debaited to be lauchfull
1640 Acts V. 310/1.
Ane lauchfull debt and burthene
(c) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 829.
Be lachtful dome of al the senatouris of Rome
1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. 118.
The sade Henry … wes be lauchtfull proces of recognicione accumin to the propirte of the sadis landis
1558-66 Knox II. 275.
That this proclamatioun … may be laughtfull to inflict upoun thame the painis conteyned in Goddis word aganis idolateris
a 1579 Prot. Bk. W. Douglas MS. 280 b.
To mak lauchtfull warnyng … at thair paroche kirkis
1593 Elgin Rec. II. 31.
Dew and lau[ch]tful varning to compeir
1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 327.
The said sowme of ten thousand marks … for the lauchtfull redemptione, lowsinge and acquitinge off the landis
1631 Misc. Spald. C. II. 228.
Whairunto it salbe fund after laughfull tryall that the said Earle hes iust right

b. As appointed or fixed by law. Lauchfull time (of day) biddin, see also Bide v. 4 b.Cf. sense 4 b.(1) 1510 Selkirk B. Ct. fol. 7 a.
xviii men … to work … quhyll lawchful cokcraw
1517 Ib. fol. 56 b.
Quhill the kokis of nycht crawin at lauchful tym
1519 Ib. fol. 75.
Quhill lauchfull cokraw at iii houris efter myd
1522 Balfour Pract. 51.
The … communitie … hes gude richt … to buy upon lauchfull pryces all sic gudis and geir
1622-6 Bisset II. 346/1.
Adamnan … sailled to Hibernia to teich the Erismen thair the lauchfull Eistir
(2) 14.. Acts I. 22/2.
Gif ony burges be challangyt of ony playnt … he sall nocht ansuere withoutyn day and terme lachfull
1488 Lanark B. Rec. 4.
The balyeis ordanit hir to pay the said soum within lauchful day
1496 Acta Conc. II. 5.
That he mak thame be callit in lauchfull tyme that thai may haf space to call thair warand
c1575 Balfour Pract. 191.
He is haldin allanerlie to enter his persoun … at the sute of the persewar befoir the judge within the court, at lauchful day and place assignit thairto
1622-6 Bisset I. 171/19.
Gif he makis na denunciatioun in lauchtfull tyme and the warrand declair … ane relevant exceptioun [etc.]
(3) 1572 Prot. Bk. A. Lawson 19 b.
He had biddin … in the same place lawchtfull tyme of day
1575 Fife Sheriff Ct. xcv.
He Wes lauchfullie summond … and comperit nocht lauchfull tyme of day biddin, he being gangand upone the calsay of the said burcht for the tyme

c. Said of money. 1424 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 96.
I oblyse me … to pay … ellewyn markis of vsuale monay and lachful of Scotlande
1578 Reg. Privy C. III. 17.
That the lauchful and trew cunyie may be markit with a crownit thrussill
1627 Edinb. Test. LIV. 60.
Fyve pund of lachfull inglische money

3. Of marriage: Valid before the law. Of a spouse: Lawful. Of offspring: Legitimate. Also ellipt.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 660.
Thai hyme gat in lachful bede
1428 Wemyss Chart. 54.
Wilyame of Levynstoun, … sal hafe Eufame … in lachfull matrimonye, til his spousit wyfe
1589 Liber Offic. S. Andree 170.
The … barnis … to be als lachfull as the said degres had nocht beyne betwix thame
(b) c1420 Wynt. vi. 2104.
The lawchfull twa Brethire forsuke wyth hym to ga
1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 248/1.
Johne, quhilk deit bastard without ony lauchfull ayeris gottin of his body
1516 Acts II. 283/1.
Johne Duke of Albany … anarlie naturaill and lauchfull sone of vmquhile Alexr.
1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 337/34.
King Robert marijt Elizabeth, his lemmayn … for affeccioun he had to his barnis, to mak thame lauchfull
1558-66 Knox II. 330.
Till that lauchfull successioun should be sein of the Quenis body
1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 546.
The quene … quhais lauchfull husband he culd not be nether she his lauchfull wiff
1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 139.
The said James … is nocht lawchfull bot is bastard
1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 76.
Her husband … wes neither deid nor divorced from her; so that her mariage with the Hamiltoun culd not be lawghfull
1668 Edinb. Test. LXXIII. 237.
I nominat … my lawchfull schildring to be my only executours
(c) 1486 Lennox Mun. 127.
Ane dochter … gottyne in lauchtful spousage
1490 Thanes of Cawdor 74.
Ewyne as schow var his lachtfull veddyt wiff
1596 St. A. Baxter Bks. 60.
Androw Dunkesoun, lawchtfull eldest son to Duncan Dunkesoun
ellipt. 1503 Acts II. 243/2.
That it be clerely decernit … that scho was nocht his lauchtfull
1542 Ib. 412/2.
The narrest lauchtfull of hir blude … salbe maid gouernour of the realme

4. a. Lauchful age, eild, at which one becomes legally competent or attains one's legal majority. 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 384.
Quhill the forsayde hayr be at lachfull helde and lachfully sesit in the ilk landys of Balkarne
1437 Cop. St. A. 156.
Oure tenande … awcht of law for defawt of laychfull elde to warde till ws
1465 Buccleuch Mun. II. 66.
Ay and a quhilest ane vther son … cum to lauchful age of mariage
1478 Acta Conc. 19/1.
The saidis persounis fand the saidis dochteris of lauchful eilde to the landis of Orcheardfelde
1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 402/2.
A lettre of tak … to ryn quhill the Kingis lauchfull age of xv yeris
1524 Ib. 492/2.
Makand him Constable of Scotland quhill the Erle of Erolis lauchfull age of xxi ȝeire
1535 Stewart 1594.
Quhill passit be [the] rage Of rakles ȝouth and cum till lauchtfull age
1565–6 Reg. Privy S. V. ii. 70/1.
Eftir oure soverane ladyis lauchfull and perfite aige of xxxiii [sic] yeiris compleit
1592 Banff Ann. II. 394.
Oure souerane lord now efter his lawthfull and perfyte age of twentiefyve yeiris compleit [etc.]
1595–6 Reg. Privy C. V. 277.
[The said William is] not of lauchfull age nor forisfamiliat

b. Lauchfull day, time, on or during which it is lawful for courts to be held or judicial action taken.C f. sense 2 b. 1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. 410/2.
The dome of qwhilk decrete the forsayde Sir Patrick … deferryt tyl his lauchfulle day next eftir Pas
1432 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 44.
At the saidis Jone and Elisabeth sall be handfast, … at the next opin and lachful tyme folowand
1493 Reg. Paisley 404.
The bailȝeis … of Renfrew, to compeyr before ws … the xiiii day of May nixttocum gif that day be lauchfull, and failȝeing therof the nixt lauchfull day therefthyr folowing
1587 Acts III. 459/1.
Vpoun the morne efter the cuming of the saidis iustice deputtis to euery heid burgh of the schire gif the day be lauchfull … thay sall begin and fens thair air

5. Recognized or qualified by law, having right according to law. Espec., lauchfull air (= heir).(1) 1391 Lennox Mun. 43.
The quhilkis faleȝand, to the nest and lachful ayris of the forsaid Erle
1464 Fam. Innes 78.
At the saide James … is lachful and nerrest ar til … the saide schir Robert, and at he is of lachful age
(b) 1495 Contract (Mey P.) MS. 13 June.
Alexander Mowat … nerrest & laichfull ayre to Willȝeam of Clyne
(c) 1390 Acts I. 216/2.
Of the qwhilkis erldome … Issabell … is verray & lauchfull ayre
1477 Peebles B. Rec. 182.
He proforit his land and tenement to sell to the nerast of his awn kyn and lawchfull ayris tyll hym
1511 Lennox Mun. 194.
Say that allwais the airis … sal be lauchfule and habile to succeid … , thai beand maile
1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 67.
Ay and quhill ane lauchfull and rychtuus air be ordourlie intrit thairto
1610 Rec. Earld. Orkney 186.
Eduard Sinclar … is neirest and lawthfull [sic] air to … his brother
(d) 1422 Stirling Chart. 208.
Qwhill the forsaid some be me or be my lauchtful ayeris … fullyly was payit
1557 Prot. Bk. J. Robeson 206 b.
To serue him as … lauchtfull air
(2) 1442 Stirling Chart. 216.
We fande hym possessoure of thaim [lands] lachfull and nocht the said Gilbert
1457 Acts II. 47/2.
Thairefter [to] lat thame to brogh to that last lauchfull possessour of thay landis
1563 Ib. 540/1.
That na kyndlie lauchfull possessour tennent or occupyer … be removit
(3) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 217.
I am Cristis lauchtfull [L. legitimus] knycht
c1420 Wynt. vi. 2038.
The Thane Off Fyfe thowcht … for till bryng Hame wyth hym a lawchfull king
1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 376/26.
Gif I war fre, and the Scottis maid my lauchtfull subdittis
1562-3 Winȝet I. 122/7.
Gif ȝe can nothir assuir ws of ȝour lauchfull bischopis … nor ȝit knawis ȝour lauchful Souerane [etc.]
1569-73 Bann. Memor. 139.
Shoe is as lawchfull, sen hir father was our native King
Ib. 140.
Our ministeris … will not pray for thair lauchfull heretrix
1625 Garden Kings 43.
Thay … thair laughfull prince, thair prisoner, dispesht
1623 Melrose P. 537.
The vnlawghfull taking of a laughfull subiect, and keeping him as a pledge for releif of a condamnit theif

b. Appointed or authorized according to law; having legally valid authority and powers.(a) 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 119.
The sayd Wil Mowat mayd his wyf … lachful towtor tyl hys ar
1488 Paisley B. Rec. 26.
Baith the saidis partis sal compere be thaim self or thare lachful procuratouris
1562 Inverness Rec. I. 76.
The prouest wes nocht ane lachful prouest within the bruch
1584 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 44.
Wm Thomsone … hes maid … Kapitane Thomas Ker his verrey lachfull and ondwttit irreuocabill donatur cessionar and assingna
(b) 1391 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 163.
I require yow … as lauchful actornay to my saide wyfe … that yhe grant [etc.]
a1500 Henr. Fab. 2679.
Set me ane lauchfull court, I sall compeir
1482 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 501.
My verray lauchful vndoutit and vnreuocable baillies of al and sindry my landis
1551 Hamilton Cat. 222.
Seik for ane lauchful mlnister quhilk may pronunce the wordis of absolutioun to thé
1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 191.
In cais we … dois that thing … quhilk is to be requirit done be ane lauchfull officer in this town
1562-3 Winȝet I. 16/7.
Giue Jhone Knox and ȝe affirmis ȝour selfis lauchful
1569-73 Bann. Memor. 140.
Na inferiour subject hes power to depryve or depose their lawchfull magistrat
1571 Sat. P. xxvi. 118.
He being crownit in lauchfull Parliament
1570 Leslie 169.
The Erle of Arrane … wes declarit be the estaitis to be lauchfull tutour … to the Quene and realme
1641 Acts V. (1817) 521/2.
The infeftment … grantit be our said Soverane Lord as father, tutor, guyder and lawchfull administrator to his hienes darrest sone Charles
c1650 Spalding II. 472.
The preicheris and covenanteris … cryit out aganist his Majesteis lauchfull commissioun
(c) 1492 Highland P. II. 193.
My vera lawchtful and ondoutit assingnay
c 1523 Chart. Coupar A. II. 135.
All and sindry wthir thingis to excers hant ws that to the office of lauchtfull balȝe … is as knawin constitut to perteine
1566 Prot. Bk. D. Gray 37.
Ihone Campbell … makkis … the said Thomas his lachtfull … donatour … and assigna

c. Possessed of legal rights, legally competent. 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 306/2.
We haif reabillit the said Alexander to his gude fame … and als hes maid him lauchfull … to exerc all lauchfull dedis in jugement and outwith

6. Law-abiding. 14.. Acts I. 356/2.
The wytnessing of xii men lawchfull, lell and suffycyande burges
c1420 Wynt. vi. 1894.
He wes in justice rycht lawchfull, And till hys legis all awfull
a1500 Rauf C. 508.
As ane lauchfull man my laidis to leid, That leifis with mekle lawtie and laubour in fay
c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 581.
Lufe is tressonable: Nocht lauchfull, but scho is lamentable
c1575 Balfour Pract. 273.
The keyis of court ar … 7. Ane assise of honest and lauchful men
1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII. 372.
The Estaitis … had nevir ony purpois … that the said act sould ressave executioun aganis honnest, lauchfull, and trew personis

7. quasi-adv. = Lawfully, Lauchfully.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii. 1771.
The Pape Alysandyr … renewyd … Thare custwmys, and thare awawntage, That thai had lawchfull [W. lauchfully] befor thai dayis
(2) 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. 34.
The bref aucht to proced and be seruit be caus it wes lawchtfull resit and proclamit to the said day
1517 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 89.
That he may hayf a lettir of permit that he sall hayf the samyn agane with all profetis als lachfull as it may be gewyn
1564 Dysart Rec. 19.
He was lauchful chargit at the instans of John Malvyll
(3) 1523 Fam. Rose 199.
His sone and nerrest apperand ayre lachtfull gottyn
1593 Sutherland Chart. 175.
Margreit Gordowne, lauchfull begottin doichtir of … Johne Gordowne

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