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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.

Let, n. Also: lett(e, lete, leit(t. [ME. lette (12th c.), lett, f. Letv. Cf. Lat n.]Cf. also Letting vbl. n.

1. a. Hindrance, obstruction, opposition. Also to set or mak(e let to, to hinder or to prevent. b. Something that hinders, an impediment. c. Hesitation or delay.a. (1) 1375 Barb. vii. 172.
He had to slepe sa mekill vill That he mycht set na let thar-till Ib. xix. 449.
Swa that na let thar in be maid 1384 Acts I. 349/2.
Gif it happnis that any … schapes for to ride witht oste ilk an of the lordes … sall set let thairin at thair powair c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1685.
For quho so haistis him … To pas a gait our-hastely, He sall haue let c1420 Wynt. vii. 2306.
Quhen he wes on this purpos set The Erle of Flawndrys mad hym let Ib. 2454.
Na kyn swylk fundatyown Suld newyre in to that plas be set To ma sic dowtys or sic lete Ib. viii. 2435.
Bot Goddis gret pyté … Tillhys purpos made gret lete 1456 Hay I. 80/30.
And ȝit may sik men have let naturale that thai ar nocht worthy in bataill place c1515 Asl. MS. I. 177/26.
To semple men scho [Worthiness] makis na let truble nor stopping 1543 Reg. Privy S. III. 34/2.
That nane of yow tak upoun hand to mak ony impediment, lett or distrublance to oure said cousing 1569 Mary Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lix.
Dyvers gret impedimentis … quhilkis gif thay haid bene knawin to ws wald haif maid lett and impedyment 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 543.
To the great lett and hinderance of the incres of gude lettres 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 339.
All lett and impediment quilk mycht have stayed the toune unput thame to proffet removit 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xcvii.
Nor shall [we] cast in any let or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution(2) a1400 Leg. S. i. 214.
Quhat he walde, he mycht do Bot let of ony man thar-to c1420 Wynt. vi. 2000.
Owre the wattyre than wes he sete Bwt dawngere or bwt ony lete 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 26.
To follou nature … Quhose uill thay must obey but lett or stay(3) 1439 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 49.
The forsaide Jone … sal … joise the forsaide landis … withoutin let, perturbacion, harme, or distroubelance of me 1628 Stirling's Royal Lett. I. 265.
Without any of your lettis, stayes, trubles, imprestis of thare men or any other hinderance whatsoeur 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 8.
The said Earle of Callander to passe furth of this kingdom … and to returne without any lett or molestationeb. c1420 Wynt. vii. 2435.
Gyve thare hapnyd ony let That maryid ware noucht this Margret Wytht the ayre apperand Ib. viii. 3208.
Thai thowcht In to thame the let fell nowcht a1500 Rauf C. 540.
Bot gif sum suddand let put it of delay 1513 Doug. v. xii. 142.
Quhat is the let I may thé nocht embrace? 1545 Bk. Carlaverock II. 27.
Not to do … quhairby ȝe shuld … be the verry lett of ȝour father's liberte a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxv. 176.
Trew luif hes no let 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 132.
How could he justlie, be ony lettis, be secludit thairfra? Ib. 238.
Lat no guid meanes be omitted, nor no lettis of small moment stickin at, but a plane dealing usit 1588 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II. 140.
That delay may breade a let and geve us tymelie wairning 1594 Colville Lett. 131.
That ye may knaw who be the impedimentis and lettis to his Majestie a1598 Ferg. Prov. 6 b.
Efter delay comes a lette 1611-57 Mure I. 301, ii. 6.
All lets, my flight which doe empeach, remove 1613 Warrender P. MS. I. 34.
Some arrysing letts empesched this conceate 1622 Blair Autob. 21.
To declare … what lets and rubs I met with in the service of the Lord 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 455.
That the lack of powder was the greatest lettc. 1535 Stewart 2361.
Thair wes no let that tyme, tha war nocht lidder, The men of armes rudlie ran togidder

2. In verse in the phrases but let, but, foroutin, withoutin (langar, mare, ony) let, without hesitation or delay, at once, straightway; also b. as mere expletive tags.Freq. in the rhyming position.a. (1) 1375 Barb. xx. 7.
A part to Norhame went but let c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1895.
He was clene but let Of that fals cryme thai one hime set Ib. 2227.
All that evir he tuke but let Gart hangit be on a gibbet c1420 Wynt. viii. 3188.
In till Wygtown he gert set A jwstry, the qwhilk he held but let a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 755.
[They] lightit but let c1475 Wall. vi. 866.
Thai … A promes maid to meit Wallace but let a1500 Seven S. 1825.
Than quyk thai erdit him but let c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 196.
Name thame furth but let Id. Seven S. 9231.
Ȝe sall but let my father sone pas to(2) 1375 Barb. i. 598.
[He] raid to the king but langir let Ib. 622; etc.
Forowtyn langir let This letter sall I entyr heyr a1400 Leg. S. i. 168.
Than went he to Rome bot ony lete Ib. xxxix. 175.
[They] suld be … hangit hye but langare leit Disputuisly one a gebeit c1420 Wynt. ii. 208.
Than Esaw, for-owtyn lete, For hungyr that he wes in sete … Gawe wpe alle hale hys herytage Ib. iv. 1554.
Thre bollys mete This Hanyball wytht-owtyn lete To Cartage gert in hy be send Ib. vii. 346.
Thai past syne But ony let tyll Dwnfermelyne Ib. viii. 2918.
But gret delay or langere lete Ib. 4689.
But mare lete Thai strawcht thare speris and thai thaim mete In to the fwrd ?1438 Alex. ii. 7208.
To-morne but baid or langer let, Thow gar my standart vp be set c1475 Wall. vii. 848.
Twa thousand thar drownyt with outyn lett a1500 Rauf C. 318.
Withoutin ony mair let than he tuke his leif a1500 Bk. Chess 1575.
All merchand men … suld … thair promys kepe withoutin let 1588 Montg. in Cullen Chron. Aberd. 62.
Thayne I bwitt onne layngar leitt Sall plaig yow for your inequitteb. (1) c1420 Wynt. ii. 639.
He wes … Be lyne discendande fra Noye, Off his yhungast son, but lete, That to name was callyd Japhete Ib. iii. 317.
Quhen the Phylisteis, but lete, Wyst he had thare his resset, Thai enbussyd thame ner by That womanys hous c1475 Wall. vii. 1279.
In wtlaw oys he lewit thar but let a1500 Henr. III. 93/116.
My hairt on thé is sett … Quhill I may leif but lett a1603 Anc. Prophecies 26.
I … sained me on euery side, … Then I looked but let, lightlie me fra And saw a hirsall in hie a1500 Seven S. 409.
Our all vther thing lufit he … Justing and tor[na]mentis but let 1513 Doug. v. xiii. 72.
Grant at thai may alsso atteyn, but let, The flude Tybir Ib. x. ii. 34.
Is this a thing full onlesum, but let? 15.. Clar. ii. 771.
He that is win sall be at the will Of him that straike him doun but let 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 362.
This lyfe temporall Quhilk ȝe mon lose but let quhen ȝe leist wene(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9327.
The battel ȝe haue set, This day aucht dayis to fecht withouttin let 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 444.
Ȝit the Kirk suld soner get Comfort ouir all withouttin let Be this ordour … Nor be this new enormitie