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: 1475-1598
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Lauta, Lawtay(e, n. Also: lawta, lata. [Var. of Lautee n., with -a, -ay as in allya, entra, ischa.] Loyalty, fidelity; allegiance; good faith, integrity, honesty.(1) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 972.
Bruce … With hys awn hand agayn wrayt to Wallace And thankyt him off lauta and kyndnas c1475 Ib. 1171.
Merour he was off lauta and manheid(b) 1499 Liber Aberbr. 325.
[I am bound] in lawtay and service to be done and kepit to thaim 1538 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 203.
[I am bound] in the maist traist styill, form, and band of lawtaye and suthfastnes to ane nobill … lord 1562-3 Winȝet II. 7/2.
This is … a general reul to al richt, an ewin lyne of lawtay, a tweche stane of the treuth(c) a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) No. 588.
Lata is lang and dreich(2) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 1262.
He him band Lauta to kep to Wallace c1475 Ib. viii. 11.
Sa he will … Fra this tyme furth kepe lawta till our croune 1482 Bamff Chart. 33.
[Signed] Fynlo Ramsa kepithlawta
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