A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1533-1570
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Sleuth, Slueth, adj. [Late ME and e.m.E. slouth (Lydgate), slought (c1450), sloth (1549); Sleuth n.1] = Sleuthful(l adj. 1. — 1533 Boece 521.
How he schew him sleuth in materis committit to his charge, na thing is rehersit bot thingis put to execucioun in maist extreme maner 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 9132.
Gwydo … was not sleuth On thame to wait, quhill that he knew the treuth 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 10011.
Feir not for to tell me the treuth, To help ȝour self, se na way ȝe be sleuth 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 180.
Wald thay na mair impugne the treuth Syne in thair office be nocht sleuth [1621 slueth] 1570 Satirical Poems x 92.
Quhen pleisit God to send ȝow Scottis the treuth The same to further at Leith he was not sleuth
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"Sleuth adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sleuth_adj>
