We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LAIT, n. Also laite; lett (see Lett), leat; ¶leet. Gen. in pl. Manners, behaviour, habits (Sc. 1825 Jam.); specif. bad habits, tricks, pranks.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 152:
Sic Laits appear to us sae awfu', We hardly think your Learning lawfu'.Per. 1766 A. Nicol Poems 120:
But be advis'd to mortify Your youthfu' laits by piety.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 178:
Frae his ill laits to see to had him in, And to a sober course of life begin.Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 51:
But yet nae loose unmensefu' laits Between the twa ran i' their pates.Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 38:
All the “ill laits that ever followed swine.”Ayr. a.1878 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage (1892) 124:
Some o' your saunts . . . found it easier to lay down their life than their ill leets.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. xi.:
Unlearn a' ill-laits least they airt ye intil waur diffeekwalties.

[O.Sc. late, outward appearance or manner, 1375, in pl. manners, behaviour, from c.1450, North. Mid.Eng. lates, id., O.N. lát (pl.), manners. Cf. M.L.Ger. lat, outward appearance, manner. The form leet, if genuine, corresponds to Mid.Eng. lēte, O.N. læti, manners, a deriv. of lát. Cf. Ett, Eet.]

17061

snd