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: 1456-1628
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Letus(e, n. Also: lettus, -ous, -eis. [ME. and e.m.E. letus(e (c 1290), -uce, e.m.E. also letews (Caxton), lettyse (1533), -ice (1562), -es, -uce, -use (and also lactuse (c 1540) by etym. re-spelling after L. lactūca), connected with AF. letue, OF. laitue, L. lactūca.Supposed by some to be f. AF. letues pl. apprehended as sing. Cf. also Latuce.]
Lettuce. Also attrib. with seid. 1456 Hay II. 129/7.
With calde herbis with vynager as is letus purpy … and syk like 15.. Comrie Hist. Sc. Med. I. 189.
Or geif him pympernell … or geif him letuse 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 312.
Preserved lettus the pund l s. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1359.
Sic lips sic lettouse, quo the kw eating thrissilsattrib. 1549–50 Treasurer's Accounts IX. 385.
Tua unce of letteis seid, v s.
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"Letus n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/letuse>
