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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DOLESS, adj. Lazy. lacking in energy, improvident. Also doeless, dooless (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang.: Dmf. 1950 (per Fif.¹⁷); Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.; Uls.¹ c.1920), dolus, -os (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)), düless (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Slg.³ 1940), duless (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), daaless (Angus), doaless (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Cf. Daeless, Dowless. [′døləs, ′do-, ′du-]Sc. 1744 Session Papers, Petition Lady Houstoune 30:
These Tortoises very much resemble you, they being equally stupid, slow, and doeless.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 41:
Whaur ill vaige is du been a' day, du püir, simple, düless, saft-head snüol dat du is.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems, etc. 148:
Hard is the fate o' ony doless tyke, That's forc'd to marry ane he disna like.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. xii.:
She was wae to see so braw a gallant sae casten down, doless, and dowie.