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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LICHTSOME, adj. Also licght-. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. lightsome, which is now mainly in dial. and poet. use. [′lɪçtsəm]

1. Light-hearted, gay, cheerful. Gen.Sc. Also adv. Hence lichtsomelike, id.; adv. lichtsomely.Abd. 1746 W. Forbes Dominie Deposed (1765) 29:
A lightsome life still did I drive.Ayr. 1786 Burns Holy Fair ii.:
As lightsomely I glowr'd abroad, To see a scene sae gay.Rxb. 1876 W. Brockie Confessional 203:
Be lichtsome and cheerie, I'll never forsae ye, nor leave ye yer lane.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 108:
We wir young an' strong, an' on a lichtsome aerrand, an' toucht no muckle o' da tramp.Edb. 1890 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) XIV. 145:
Lichtsome the burnie ran to the sea, I' the dawn o' the sweet May morn.Ags. 1896 Barrie Sentimental Tommy xxiv.:
How is't you never rage at me now, ma'am? I'm sure it keepit you lightsome, and I likit to hear the bum o't.Sc. 1910 L. M. Watt In Poet's Corner 103:
The cauld, grey street, whaur ne'er I see A face, that's lichtsome-like to me, But a' gae by sae dowielie.Rxb. 1913 Kelso Chron. (14 Feb.) 4:
An' aye there rose like fairy's croon The lichtsome sang she lilted.ne.Sc. 1928 J. Wilson Hamespun 21:
When they see him sae lichtsomely lauchin'.

2. Cheering, enlivening; having a cheerful aspect, not tedious, pleasant. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 77:
Change of Dee'ls is lightsome.Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 51:
It is a bonny lightsome place.Abd. 1884 D. Grant Keckleton 19:
The novelties seen on the road, made the lang journey lichtsom'.Per. 1894 I. MacLaren Brier Bush 300:
Worse is she, an' sufferin' awfu'; that's no lichtsome.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Aapril 5):
A lang tongue at times maks a lang rodd licghtsome.Dmf. 1920 J. L. Waugh Heroes 67:
They were happy days for youth an' hope made work lichtsome.m.Sc. 1924 O. Douglas Pink Sugar xxiv.:
It's a sudden up-rooting, but as Easie often says, “Changes are lichtsome.”Slk. 1986 Harvey Holton in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 166:
Tae this lichtsome laun oor faithers fled
doom determined the coasts tae ken:

3. Light on one's feet, nimble, agile. Gen.Sc. Hence lichtsomeness, nimbleness, agility.Edb. 1851 A. Maclagan Poems 79:
Up, ye that are lightsome of limb.Rnf. 1870 J. Nicholson Idylls 135:
She ran aboot wi' lichtsome feet 'mang Arran's flowery fells.Lnk. 1880 Clydesdale Readings 135:
She … mounted wi' a lichtsomeness I didna think her capable o'.Bwk. 1897 R. M. Calder Poems 63:
I'm to my feet wi' lichtsome bound.Dmf. 1915 D. J. Beattie Oor Gate-en' 30:
Hear nae mair the lichtsome fit-fa'.Abd. 1922 P. Macgillivray Bog Myrtle 26:
Our Genius o' Strathspeys an' Reels, Has nae a peer for lichtsome heels.