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.
Lawles, a. Also: lau-; and lawleslie adv. [ME. and e.m.E. lau-, law(e)les, early ME. laughe-, lagheles, laȝeleas. ] Lawless; without law; regardless of, or disobedient to, law. a1500 Henr. III. 171/43.
Nothir meryt is preisit, na punyst is trespas; All ledis lyvis lawles at libertee a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxviii. 4.
Quhone pryd is in pryce … Halie Kirk awles and justice lawles 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 32.
That lawles band, Secretar and vther, together with that graceless garisone, 300 Erismen 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV. 29.
Being for a grite part wicked and laules people, … dalie exercett in reiff and crueltie 1596 Melvill 391.
In sa dissolut estait of a lawles and justiceles peiple 1605 Reg. Privy C. VII. 89.
That sic a unfamous byke of lawles lymmaris salbe sufferitadv. 1631 Highland P. I. 324.
Having maisterfullie and lawleslie intrudit themselffis in his estait
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"Lawles adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 30 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lawles>