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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.

Linsey-wo(o)lsey, n. and a. Also: lincey-woolsey, linsie-woolzie, linsiwolsie, lintsey-wolsey. [e.m.E. linsey-wo(o)lsey (1591), lince-wolse (1565), lylse-wulse (1522), lynsy-wolsye (Cath. Angl.), f. linsey (see Linssie n.) plus wool with jingling ending. Cf. Linsie-winsien.] a. n. Linsey-woolsey, a mixed stuff woven from linen and wool. b. attrib. passing into adj., and fig. Consisting of a mixture of irreconcilables; mixed up, muddled, confused.a. 16.. Craven Caithness Diocese 90.
He is like linsie-woolzie, made of linnen and woollen, forbidden in the law, he hath Jacob's voice, and Esau's heart and hands 1646 Edinb. Test. LXII. 128 b.
Ane peice of quhyt linsiewinsie … ane vther quhyt peice of linsiwolsie 1673 Leith Customs 69.
3 peice lincey woolsey 12: 14: 00b. 1606 Birnre Kirk-b. Pref.
Their lin-sey-wol-sey confusions Ib. xviii.
Buriall in kirk may be counted with the lintsey wolsey confusions, or like the commixion of sundrie seeds ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I. 121.
The next cure was for to enter protestationes against thes clerolaicall linsey-wolsey suffrages and electiones