Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Leit, v.² Also: leite, lete. [Derivation not clear: cf. north. and midl. ME. lit (Cursor M.), lytyn, lyte, and mod. north. and east midl. Eng. dial. lite, light, to expect, wait, delay, prob. ON. hlíta to trust (cf. Lippin v.); but cf. also Let v. 2 c.] intr. Only in the poetic phr. To leit (= linger, tarry) at luffis or one's lair (Lare n. 1 c) or law. — a1500 Henr. III. 115/34.
At luffis law [M. layr] I think a quhil to leit [v.r. leite; rh. suet, met, beit] Ib. 146/4.
No thing is hard ... Till him in lufe that letis a1568 Bann. MS. p. 25/37.
Leit at my lair gif thow wilt leir The gait quhair glaidnes is a1570-86 Maitl. F. lix. 29.
At luiffis lair I list nocht leit, I lyk best quhen I lig allone