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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.

Licour(e, Liquour(e, n. Also: licoir, licure, liccour, lycour(e, -or, -ure, lykoure; leco(u)r; liquor(e, -are, liqwre, lyquour. [ME. licur (a 1225), -ure, -oure, lyc-, late ME. liquour, OF. licur, -our, likeur, L. liquor.]

1. A liquid or fluid, in a general sense.(a) c1420 Ratis R. 643.
Scho berys with hire lycor schyr That slokins syne as vatter fyre 1513 Doug. vii. vii. 125.
About the sydis of the pot playing, The licour [Sm. lykoure] sparklis for the heyt bulyng 1535 Stewart 35851.
Als on the image scho leit drop amang, Out of ane pig, ane wounder fat licoir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 755.
Thay gar sweit licour swym aboue, and gall is at the ground(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 123/31.
And this lettir of grace … sal be writtin with richt precius liquore, that is, the precius blud of … Jhesus Ib. 145/27.
Bot eftir the boist be opynnit, the sauour and sueitnes of the liquore is knawin c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 10.
A revir bricht, Of balmy liquour, cristalline of hew 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 468.
For the sweit liquour [Sm. liquare] of thy pappis quhite Fosterit … our Saluyour Jhesus Ib. vii. 30.
The beys … with sweit liquour stuffis thare cellis scheyn Ib. xii. Prol. 136.
So that ilk … flour Wolx all embalmyt of the fresch liquor [v.rr. liquour] 1528 Lynd. Dreme 93. 1533 Boece xi. iv. 409 b.
[The witch] ȝet ay downe … ane liquoure in maner of flawmyng apoun the image c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 104.
Quhare euer scho go, Sic liquour scho likkith vp also a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 40 (L).
[Flowers,] Sum drapping Of balmie liquor sweit 1580 Hume Promine 89.

2. Liquid for drinking; any beverage or drink. Also fig.(a) c1420 Bute MS. fol. 172.
Qwhen thai [the crew] cum to land qwhar the wynys growys the maystyr is haldyn to get thaim lycoure a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 605.
Syne that lycure he drank thare But felyng of ony sare a1500 Henr. Fab. 1682 (B).
Bachchus … With wynis wicht and liccour of pleasaincce a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 144.
This worthy Lady … Till hungry meit, till thristy sweit licoure a1538 Abell 43 b.
Ony thing at sche desirit, wyne, aill, mylk or ony othir meit or licour 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 168.
Of ane twme twn nane can draw out licour(b) c1420 Wynt. vii. 1353.
Fra that liqwre He tastyd, than mycht he nowcht endure a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1376(Wr.).
I know no liquor … To quench his deadly drouth, Except the cherrie help his heat a1688 Wallace Descr. Orkney 35.
They use strong ale and beer (the nature of the climate requiring strong liquor)(c) 1498–9 Halyb. 106.
Item in lecoris at the sellin [of skins] 4½ g[roat]s a1500 Henr. Orph. 70 (B).
The sueit lecour of all mvsik