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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1625
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(Lefe-,) Leifsum, a. [ME. lefsum (? a 1400) and thereafter only Sc., f. OE. léaf (Leve n., Lefe n.2): cf. Levesum and (much the most common form) Lesum.] Permissible, right, proper, licit. a1500 Bk. Chess 2176.
Leifsum it is this povne him to defend 1513 Doug. xii. xiii. 48 (R).
Sustenand … euery stres baith leifsum and vnleif 1545 Grant Chart. 93.
It sall nocht be leifsum to ws … to tak [etc.] 1545 Wemyss Chart. 171.
To tak our afald part in … our causis, actionis, questionis and querelles, leifsum and honest c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6074.
The secreitis quhilk he saw Thay wer nocht leifsum for till schaw To na man c1552 Ib. 2400. 1557 Reg. Cupar A. II. 131. 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 123. a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xv. 72.
Grace be to the gude burges wyffis That be leifsum lawbour thryveis a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xx. 15.
All leifsum promeis keip justlie a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS cii. 60.
Leifsum myrrynes 1577 Fam. Rose 269. 1625 Misc. Spald. C. V. 223.
It sall not be leifsum to na husbandman [etc.]
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"Leifsum adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/leifsum>
