Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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.

Lot, n.¹ Also: lott(e, loth, lote, loit(t, loith, loat(t. [ME. and e.m.E. lot(t, lote (14th c.), etc., OE. hlot.In most senses appar. late, after e.m.E., but occurring earlier in senses 2 a and 2 b.]

1. A lot, as a piece of wood or the like, that is cast or drawn. a. To cast or draw lottis. 1513 Doug. vi. i. 32.
The dedly vrn stand porturat mycht thai knaw, Owt of the quhilk the lottis warrin draw 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 26 Aug.
For the partesing & deuitione thairof, the saidis parteis causit Thomas Ord [etc.] … deuid the haill insaycht guddis quhilkis apertenit to the said wmquhill Villem Ord … & caist lottis vpon the samyng 1639 Acts V. 604/2.
The commissioneris of shyris to draw lottis and valentines ȝeirlie at ilk parliament for thair places

b. Be (by) lot, by casting lots or appealing to chance in some other way (as by scriptural divination).By lot of cors and pyle, by the toss of a coin: see Pile n. 1563 Reg. Privy C. I. 244.
Ather to pas to Carlisle or cum to this toun of Drumfreis, as sall fall out be lot or … be aggrement 1656 Johnston Diary (1940) 52.
After praying on the weal trysted beginning of 12 Proverbs I asked by lott the Lords mynd 1678 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 100 (18 May).
[The cornlands … are to be divided equally in] dealles and eqwall shares by loatt and cavill

c. According to lotts, in lott, in shares allocated by lot. 1668 Irvine Mun. II. 227.
The toune land to be given out for sevin yeirs … according to lotts 1696 Conv. Burghs IV. 214.
That the … towns land … be given furth in lott

d. The casting or drawing of lots to decide something. 1640 Baillie I. 256.
The lott gave the van that day to Montrose

2. a. The assignment of shares in merchandise etc. by lot; division or sharing by lot. Commonly coupled with cavill.For the earliest examples, see Cavill n.¹ 2. 1284 Statuta Gilde in 14.. Acts I. *95/2.
Nullus confrater gilde nostre debet habere lotte neque cauyl cum alio in minori quam dimidio quarterio pellium c1575 Balfour Pract. 78. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 125 b.
That ane stallanger at na time may haue lott, cutt nor cavel anent merchandice with ane burges, bot only within time of ane fair

b. A proportionate contribution to common financial burdens: see Lot v. 1.Chiefly coupled with scot or scat, q.v. for further examples.The formula scot and lot, lot and scot also ME. (1215– ) and e.m.E. 1483 Haddington Hammermen's Seal of Cause in E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II. 104.
That all persones admittit … thairto sall pay scat and lot taxt and stent to be … taxit be the deacon 1490–1 Misc. New Spald. C. I. 35.
[Striueling, Sir John, ex gratia, services dispensed with at] lott scott wak and ward 1511–2 Ib. 45. 1515 Wigtown B. Ct. 43 a.
[He] hais fundin Michell McConnuill souerte to keyp schoit & loith 1575 Conv. Burghs I. 44.
Incais ony schippis be pilleitt the gudes saiff sall contribute scatt and loitt for the relief of the personis dampnefeit, bayth schip and gudes according to thair wairing 1582 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 173.
[He] hes fund Alexander McClellane in Galtuay cautioun for keiping scat stent and loit conform to vse of burgh

3. A share (esp. of land, also of merchandise) assigned by lot. Also attrib. in lotte-book.(1) 1627 Calderwood VII. 118.
In the moneth of Julie, our Scottish gentlemen, who had gotten lands in Irland from the king, went over to see their lott 1668 Irvine Mun. II. 228.
Ane list of the toune landis as the samen wes given out to the inhabitants be lott … ther being tuentie sex lotts in all Ib.
M^r Robert Barclay … ane aiker of infield land for his first lott … ane aiker nixt the clerks aiker for his secund lott 1684 Insh Colonial Schemes 237.
1000 acres for the city of Perth, divided into 99 lotts, 9 acres to a lott 1685 Dunlop P. III. .
All who take lotts in our toun are oblidged to build houses thereon within two yeirs(2) 1638 Glasgow Trades House 192.
If ony poor brother of the calling compeir and not money in reddines to pay for his lott or kavill of ony bargane to be boucht(3) attrib. 1684 New Mills Manuf. 62.
Noe persone to look upon the lotte book … befor the pryceing of cloath

b. ‘A certain quantity ofgrain, generally the twenty-fifth part, given to a thresher as his wages (Jam.).Also in the later dial., which also has lotman thresher. 1656 Edinb. Justices Peace 407.
A tasker … if he be imployed to thresh for some few weeks or dayes, he is to have the twenty-fifth part of all such corns as he shall happen to thresh (which is commonly called the lot or proof), and no more

4. One's ‘lot’, destiny, fortune or ‘portion’.? Recorded only in verse in Sc. — 1567 G. Ball. 149.
I am ane husband man but weir Quhilk labouris for my lot 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 241.
This is thair lote oftymes a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 23.
For ay sic lot is linket [MS. luiket] with his lowe Ib. 54.
And lothsome is the lot of the elect a1605 Montg. Sonn. xv. 10.
Ovids lote als lukles as the lave Ib. xxxvi. 6.
I lyk my lote and ȝit my luk is ill 1626 Garden Worthies 57.
Bot aither by allowance lote or love Thow then … that … honor hade