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: 1596-1687
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Lichtsum, a.2 Also: lychtsum, lich(t)some, lightsome. [e.m.E. lightsome, ME. lyghte-, light-, liȝtsum (14th c.).]
1. Bright, shining, full of light. In fig. contexts. 1596 Dalr. I. 199/17.
A lychtsum lycht and weil fortunat, joyful and plesante, schyned vnto thame agane, that the hard seruitude of the Pechtes was occasione to restore the Scottis a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 398.
The sun of richteousness … quhen the beamis of it strykis on thy saull, they mak it lichtsum and bricht a1624 Edinb. Univ. MS. La. ii. 319.
O blisit burd quhois soring song Fortels the lichtsum day 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose (1687) 147.
I doubt if upon the back of such a lightsome day there was ever a blacker night
2. Permeated with light, well-lit, illumined. Chiefly of rooms, etc. 1617 Mar & Kellie MSS. Suppl. 77.
She was pute in his chamber [in the Bastell], and he was put in ane uther mor conveniant and lichsome 1633 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries I. 113.
The abbey church … that had been so dark befoir was by the course takin by you becum so lightsome that [etc.] c1650 Spalding I. 233.
In respect of the darknes of the commoun school, for making the samen more lightsome, pleasant and commodious
b. Supplying ample light. 1658 J. M. Beale Hist. Fife Schools (1953) 36.
Good lichtsome windows [for Balmerino school]
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"Lichtsum adj.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lichtsum_adj_2>
