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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.

Lusty, -ie, a. (adv.) Also: -ye, -i, -é, luistie. Comp. lustiar. Superl. lustyest, -iest, -iast, -east. [ME. lusti (c 1225), lusty, lustie, f. Lust n.]In many of the occurrences there is admixture of, or ambiguity between, two or more of the senses. Most senses are very common in verse, whereas senses 1–3 are appar. uncommon in prose.

1. Cheerful, light-hearted, gay, merry, joyful. Chiefly of persons and their attributes. c1460 Dietary 63.
In ȝowth be lusty [Makc. MS. lusti], sad quhen thon art ald a1500 Henr. III. 96/11.
A lusty lady ȝing … Of lusty laitis and he honour c1500-c1512 Dunb. xix. 6.
Gif I be galland, lusty and blyth Than will thay say … That owt of mynd ȝone man is hie —Id. Tua Mar. W. 49 [see 4 (2)]. — 1535 Stewart 1727.
With lanchand luke, and with ane lustie cheir, He said till him … ‘Dear friend [etc.]’ c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 146.
Quhen thay wald mak collatioun With ony lustie companȝeoun 1530 Id. Test. Pap. 732.
The myrthfull maueis with the gay goldspink, The lustye larke c1552 Id. Mon. 190. a1568 Bann. MS. 223 b/43.
With lusty hairt than suld I gif ane loip And cum to ȝow 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 49.
Lustie comeres be mirrie for ȝour ministers sayes [etc.]

b. Gay in appearance, gaily or brightly attired. Also of dress: Gay, bright.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 58.
Ane hundreth ladyes lusty in to wedis Id. xix. 21.
Gife I be lusty in array 1513 Doug. iv. iv. 42.
Als fresch, als lusty dyd Eneas ryde a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 55.
Than wepit scho lustie in weyd 15.. Dunb. App. viii. 13.
Thre kingis … To thé ar cumin with lusty rout 1531 Bell. Boece I. x.
Ane lusty halk with mony plumis broun(2) a1500 K. Hart 474.
For saik of thé I will no colour reid Nor lusty quhyt vpone my bodie beir Bot blak and gray c1500 Crying of Play 140.
Ȝe noble merchandis … Addres ȝow furth … In lusty grene lufraye 1513 Doug. x. iv. 63.
The lusty swannys fedrame, brycht and scheyn

2. Filled with or giving pleasure; enjoyable, delightful, agreeable, pleasant. a. Of one's life, a period of time, a period of festivity. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 281 b.
Thus I begane in the lustie tyme of Maij a1500 Henr. Fab. 773.
Mony now … Ȝit nor repentis … Because thay think thair lustie lyfe sa sweit Id. III. 156/17.
O wantone Ȝowth als fresche as lusty May c1475 Wall. viii. 938. a1500 Quare Jel. . a1500 K. Hart 423.
In wirschip of that lustie feist so ding c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 8.
A lusty lyfe in luves scheruice bene Id. lxix. 49.
Cum, lustie symmer, with thy flouris Id. xxxi. 7, xlviii. 538, etc. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 174.
The fyfte buke of the festis funerall The lusty gamys and plays palustrall c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4697.
Sum man wald think ane lustye lyfe Ay quhen he list to change his wyfe 1530 Id. Test. Pap. 866, Meldrum 1036. Scott xvi. 38. c1590 J. Stewart II. 157/2.
Greif is in luif ane lustie langing lyf

b. Of food or drink or other sensuous pleasures or sensations. c. Of literary composition or music. Also as adv. a1500 K. Hart 60.
All fovellis … Of licour of ony lustie meis a1500 Lanc. 335.
Tytan withe his lusty heit c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 104.
Ballettis in lufe … With amourouse notis lusty to devise Ib. 144.
The party was so plesand for to sene A wonder lusty bikkir me assayit Ib. 270.
This ile before was bare … Off rethorike or lusty fresch endyte 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 308.
Na lusty cast of oratry Virgill wantis Ib. ix. Prol. , xii. Prol. 308, xiii. Prol. 101. 1531 Bell. Boece I. ix.
To hals and brais with mony lusty kis 15.. Clar. iv. 1820. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 313.
O lustie lufe, thy lufesome obseruance So joyous is a1568 Scott x. 4. 1585 James VI Ess. 23.
Whyles in that toung I gane a lusty glaiseadv. a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. lxiii. 74.
He hes reft Mersar his endyt That did in luif so lustie [Ch. & M. lifly, B. lyfly] wryt

3. Delightful, agreeable, pleasant; also, delightful to look at, beautiful, splendid. a. Of places and scenes. b. Of visible objects, as flowers, illuminated letters, etc.a. a1500 Lanc. 628, Ib. 2583.
God wot a lustye cuntree was it thoore c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 131.
Ladyes … Endlang the lusty rywir so thai mayit Id. xxx. 33.
Every lusty toun and place Off all Yngland frome Berwick to Kalice Id. xlvi. 28, xlviii. 44, lxxxviii. 33. 1513 Doug. vi. x. 26.
The lusty orchardis and the hailsum ȝardis Of happy sawlys Ib. xii. Prol. 175.
Lusty valys Ib. xiii. Prol. 21. a1568 Bann. MS. 229 a/45.
Allone vnder the lusty lynd I saw ane lusum lent 1528 Lynd. Dreme 819. 1535 Stewart 19412.
Engenius vpoune ane lustie le Dewydit hes his ost in battellis thre 15.. Clar. ii. 3. Ib. iv. 2315.
Into ane lustie innis ludgit thay c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1140, 5560.b. a1500 K. Hart 153.
Ȝouthheid … cleikit on his cloik Was browdin all with lustie levis grene Ib. 6. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 151.
Subtile muldrie [etc.] … Quick imagerie with mony lustie singis Ib. 487.
Fast climmand vp thay lustie wallis of stone c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 275.
Hir [Rhetoric's] lusty rosis redolent Id. Tua Mar. W. 425.
My bright buke … With mony lusty letter ellummynit with gold Id. lxiv. 8. 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 192.
Wenschis and damysellis … Plettand thar lusty chaplettis for thar hed 1528 Lynd. Dreme 422.
Phebus … That lusty lampe and lanterne of the heuin 15.. Clar. ii. 651.
He hir gave ane lustie braslet Ib. 425, 1366, iv. 1313.

4. Of ladies, their faces, looks, etc.: Fair, beautiful, lovely. Also absol. as noun.(1) 1456 Hay II. 128/29.
A faire and lustye spouse … our all grathit with … stately array tobe and appere mare fresche and lusty the day of hir mariage a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 339.
Thy lustie lyre ouirspred with spottis blak Ib. 68. Id. Bludy Serk 8.
He had a dochter fair to fald A lusty lady ȝing a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 529.
O princis prelatis and ladyis mast lustye In wardlie wrak plantand ȝour plesans 1490 Irland Mir. I. 103/24.
That Eleyne of Troy was sa lusty that nane mycht luk in hir wisage without lust of carnale plesaunce a1500 K. Hart 137.
Ane legioun of thir lustie ladeis schene Ib. 132, 298. a1500 Quare Jel. 99.
To sene from hir lusty eyne auaille The glettering teris Ib. 211. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 150, xxxii. 33, xlviii. 149, lxxvii. 6, 54, etc. 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 33.
Lusty Hebe, Junoys douchtir gay Ib. i. ii. 34, xi. ix. 86. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 29/17.
Ane lusty virgine quhais bewtie was superlative abone all the laif 1535 Stewart 217, 3672, 3680, 40878. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 406.1537 Id. Depl. Magd. 26, 143, 155.1540 Id. Sat. Proclam. 148.1540 Id. Sat. 245.c1550 Id. Meldrum 864.c1552 Id. Mon. 3490, etc.15.. Clar. iii. 1244, etc. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 730. Id. Seven S. 6075.
The king … Saw the woman quha was lustie in face Ib. 538, 6422, 7716. 1558-66 Knox II. 415.
Schame haistit mariage betwix Johne Sempill, callit the Danser, and Marie Levingstoune, surnamit the Lustie a1568 Scott ii. 4, iv. 1. 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 106. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii. 63.
Throu hir garments, heir and thair, Appeirit hir lustie limis square 1603 Philotus .compar. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 211, 213 (M).
Me thocht scho [Beauty] semit lustiar of cheir … and lustiar [B. lovarly] of facesuperl. ?1438 Alex. ii. Prol. 13.
Than ga I boundin all in baill For ane, the lustyest that is wrocht c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv. 15.
The lustiast ladie that nature can devyne … [will] tak a crippill Id. lxxxix. 3. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 239, 244.
‘I knaw ane maid in Fyfe, Ane of the lusteast wantoun lassis’; … ‘I knaw ane fairar, … Schir, quhen ȝe pleis to Leithgow pas, Thare sall ȝe se ane lusty las’ c1552 Id. Mon. 1998.
The lustyest on lyfe a1568 Bann. MS. 255 a/1.
Sum thinkis his lady lustiest Ib. 229 a/49. a1568 Scott vii. 30. a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxv. 19. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxix. 19.(2) absol. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 49.
Than spak ane lusty belyf, with lusty effeiris

5. Of persons generally, their looks, etc.: Pleasing in appearance, good-looking, attractive. a1500 Henr. Fab. 616.
Hesperons … Schawand his lustie wisage in the sky Id. Deid Pollis 6.
As ȝe ar now, into this warld we wair, Als fresche, als fair, als lusty to behald a1500 K. Hart 11.
In all his lusty lecam nocht ane spot c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 7.
Me thocht the lift all bricht with lampis lycht, And thairin enterrit many lustie wicht 1562-3 Winȝet I. 11/11.
Lyke as ane beutiful persoun is lustie anench in ane sobir rayment c1610 Melville Mem. 120.
[Darnley] wes very lusty, berdles and lady-facit

6. Of men: Handsome, well-favoured; splendid, gallant, dashing, valiant; well-built, strapping, sturdy. Also absol. as noun, and transf. a1500 Henr. Deid Pollis 19.
Behald our heidis, O lusty gallandis gay a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 258. c1475 Wall. ix. 1920.
Thryd part lenth in schuldrys braid was he, Rycht sembly, strang and lusty for to se a1500 K. Hart 738.
‘My freyndis now ar flede, The lusty folk that ȝe furth with ȝow brocht: Methink thir carlis ar nocht courtlie clede’ Ib. 68. a1500 Lanc. 2555. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 283 (M).
I had ane lustiar [Ch. & M. lufsummar] leyd my lust for to slokyn Ib. 192, 375. Id. vii. 13. Id. xxvii. 40.
Suppois he had na lusty varlot [etc.] Id. xxxii. 16, xlviii. 94, lxxvii. 12. 1513 Doug. vii. xi. 35.
The lusty Aventynns … the son of worthy Hercules Ib. i. viii. 7, vi. xiii. 11, ix. xi. 48. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 2.
Becaus he wes ane lusty persone, strang of body, with greit spreit, he conquest … the favour of the King Ib. 275.
Belt yow, thairfore, lusty gallandis, with manheid, and tak your wappinnis to this honest interpris Ib. II. 264. Id. Livy I. 236/17. 1535 Stewart 174.
Rycht fair of face … , Lustie he wes and large in his persoun Ib. 1880.
Lustie of lim and lyth 1545 Douglas Corr. 154.
The Guvernour … vas ane luste ȝung man, and meit to be exersit in varefare 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 501.
Of his court throuch Europe sprang the fame Off lustie [Pitsc. luistie] lordis and lufesum ladyis ȝing c1550 Id. Meldrum 940, 971, Mon. 2973. Clar. iv. 1760. 1569 Sat. P. x. 154. 1572 Ib. xxx. 55. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvi. 10. a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 107.
Mair lustie linnage newir had a lord a1578 Pitsc. I. 133/2. Ib. 379/23.
Debarrit … fre the croun because he was not sa lustie nor sa gainnand of dispositioun of his body 1588 Crim. Trials I. ii. 163.
He … apperit to hir att ane vther tyme, ane lustie mane, with mony mene and wemen with him c1590 J. Stewart II. 19/158. 1596 Dalr. I. 205/18. Ib. II. 2/14. 1600-1610 Melvill 66. 1622 Pope's New-Year Gift.
Then ranne These lustie laddes through out all fayre Africke 1667 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 25.
Eatch companie consisting of twell lustie able men 16.. Kirkcudbright Min. Bk. 176.
Her three sons did appear, all lusty menabsol. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 172.
Weill gretis yow, lord, yone lusty in leidtransf. a1568 Jok & Jynny 55.
I haif … Twa lusty lippis to lik ane laidill

7. Sturdy, robust, vigorous, healthy. Chiefly of children and animals. a1568 Scott i. 204.
Suppone maist sure he sall thé send support, And len the lustie liberos at large 1570 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 651/2.
I fand your dowchter myrry and werray lustye and guid lyik … and the nwryis wele wsed 1589 Burntisland B. Ct. 21 June.
At quhatt tyme the said [horse] was lustie and gud lyk worth the sowme off twentie pundis money 1596 Dalr. I. 65/23.
Mony among thame … haue past this age [sc. 100] and ȝit ar fresche and lustie of body 1649 Ruthven Corr. 110.
My young son … is a lustie boy and lyk his father 1650 Brechin Presb. 23.
That was ane lustie calff of such ane ledlie beast 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 214.
Tna great lustie young key with ther followers

8. transf. a. Applied to ships: Fair, fine, gallant. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 71.
I saw ane lustie harge Ouirset with seyis Id. Æn. x. iv. 88.
He … Bostand the streme … with hys lang and lusty ballyngar Ourslydis the deip fludis a1578 Pitsc. I. 367/13.
The King of Scottland had … tuo lustie schipis for weir

b. ? Of a ship's course: ? Swift, smart, as befitting a good ship. 1535 Stewart 38617.
Neirby Bamburch … Thir tua navingis … met; Syne set thair coursis lustie in the north, Quhill that tha come onto the month of Forth

c. Of a blow: Vigorous, hearty. 1657 R. Moray Lett. 67.
A lusty ront with a hazell rung would soon cure you of that intercalar disease

9. a. Pertaining to sensual pleasures, sensual, carnal. (Cf. 2 b). 1456 Hay II. 82/16.
[If a prince] geve till ane and other for lychtnes or for vane glorie or for othir vicious and lusty delytis Ib. 116/26.
He mon renounce till his propre lusty desyris of the flesche

b. (With admixture of sense 2): Of sexual desire, amorous. c1475 Wall. v. 617.
He tauld Kerle off his new lusty baille Ib. 715.
The sayr grewans ramaynyt in his entent, Los off his men and lusty payne off luff Ib. vi. 18. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 136/34.
The rehald … man has wone ȝour hert, and his lusty plesaunce ȝoure chastite 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. Prol. 85.
In thé [sc. May] is amorons lufe With incrementis fresche in lustie age Id. Æn. iv. Prol. 34. Ib. 370. Ib. ii. heading.
Dido enflambyt in the lusty heyt, With amorus thochtis trublys al hir spreit

c. Of persons: Amorous, lascivious. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1424.
Women … Long & lusty, black & proud 1669 Sc. Hist. Rev. XL. 59.
I have caused apprehend ane lusty susy [? read husy] yesternycht 1665-76 Lauder Jrnl. 115.
[A preacher] who, praying for the ‘illustrious Duke of York’, sayd the ‘lusty duk’