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.
Lesu, Lesoue, n. Also: bon(e)lesew Bond(e)lesoure. [ME leswe (c 1200), leswa (Layamon), lesew, leseo, lesow (15th c. ), e.m.E. lesue, leyssue, etc., OE. lǽswe, léswe (Northumb. lésua.), plur. of lǽs fem., whence ME. lese, leese, e.m.E. lease leaze.] = Lesour n. —1423 (1426) Reg. Great S. 11/2.
Twa forestar stedis … with bathe in fens and lesu and alswa the lesu callet Glengabire c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. xxviii. 14.
Lesues, lesuis 1596 Dalr. I. 7/4.
The grettest parte of the ile hes sa plentiful feildes that nane mair plentiful, plesande medowis, verie pastoral and garssie lesoueis in sum places conuenient to kye and horse, in vtheris agane to scheip Ib. 27/17.
A pasture or as we say a lesoue
