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.
Luf(e)ly, Luiflie, a. (n.). Also: luffly, luflie. Compar. luflyare, lufliare. [North. and north midl. ME. lufly (1340), luff-, lufely, early ME. luflich, var. of Luvely a.]
1. Amiable, kind, gentle. b. Amicable, friendly.1375 Barb. i. 389.
Quhen he wes blyth he wes lufly And meyk and sweyt in company, Bot quha in battaill mycht him se All othir contenance had he c1420 Wynt. iv. 2498.
Cunnand, curtas and cumly, Noucht lycht of latis bot luffly c1500 Makc. MS. xv. 3.
With lufly spech and mylde mud, He schew to man, How He … our saulis wane 1570 Leslie 166.
Of countenance amiable and lufely, specially in his communicaciounb. 1409 Douglas Chart. 370.
[They] sal nocht tak that caus furth bot in lufely manere as the lach will
2. Lovable, worthy of love, espec. on account of physical beauty; beautiful, attractive, delightful. Also absol. as n.a1400 Leg. S. ix. 54.
He Is of stature lufly to se Ib. xxxiv. 17.
A luflyare thing mycht be nane Be nature mad of flesch na bane a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 88.
With vesage lufly and lang, Body stalwart and strang Ib. 454.
Thai lufly ledis at that lord thair leuis has laught Ib. 622, 858. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 213 (Ch. & M.).
Me thoucht scho semyt lustiar of chere … Then of before, and lufliare of face 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 28.
Lufferis langis only to lok in thar lace Thir ladeis lufly c1590 J. Stewart 32/88. Ib. 53/11, 135/1.
Thocht feir did feed hir former fauor fair Hir luiflie luiks did all his lusts alluirabsol. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 614.
Lightly lap he on loft that lufly of lyre Ib. 1003.
Thai luschit and laid on, thai luflyis of lyre
b. Said of things or animals: Beautiful, attractive; admirable, splendid, fine. Also absol.c1400 Troy-bk. i. 226.
The stretis war … Richt lufly, bath lang & brada1500 Gol. & Gaw. 623.
Thai lufly ledis … laught out suerdis, lufy andd lang Ib. 553. Ib. 766.
To the lufly castell [they] war led in ane lyng c1590 J. Stewart 49/44.
Thy body of delyt Vith luiflie leessis sould be link alone Ib. 86/222.
The cairfull comte … Full monie luiflie dictums heir did vew Be Medor vrocht, quhilks … Als recent fair and viwelie formit schew As [etc.]absol. ?1438 Alex. i. 3222.
Now may he weill mak cumpany Of him [Gadifer's splendid horse] and Ferrand the lufly
3. ? Of love, amorous.a1568 Scott xix. 33.
But paciens … Nane may the panis of lufe indure Nor ȝit in to that lufly bour Mak residens
