A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1686
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Loun-, Lownry, -(e)rie, n. [f. Loun n., with -ry as in harlotry, knaverie, ladry, ribaldry etc. Also in the mod. dial. in sense b.] The disposition or conduct of a low or immoral rascal. a. Baseness, loutishness; knavishness, knavery, villainy, wickedness. b. Sexual wickedness, whoredom, harlotry, fornication. c. Attrib.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 100 (B).
Thow … That for thy lounry [M. lymmerie] mony a leisch hes fyld 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii. 37.
Euir the mair thow wald be trowit, The les thi lounrie is allowit 1606 Rollock's Thess. 114 (J).
Againe when thou art so fixt on the things of this world, yea even in thy lawful exercise (for in thy lownry thou cannot haue an eye to God) 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS. 18 Apr.
Ar ȝe cum for theiffrie or lounrie? 1686 Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 47.
Upon trial found a rogue, For all his lownry was discoveredb. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2500.
Thow [the husband] … to thy hures ȝeid oft times disagisit, … All thy lifetime in lownrie thow hes spend 1648 Dunferm. Kirk S. 28.
For hir manifold fornicationes, lownries and miscariages 1648 Dunferm. Ann. 316.
As Janet Robertson still goes on with her lownerie and profanity 1651 Johnston Diary (1919) II. 97.
Every body observed the Inglishes taiking away the King and the Lady Hadington's beds after the comoun scandal of their lounryec. 1598 Melvill Spirituall Propine 98.
Thine eares and eyes keip close From lounrie luikes and voce
