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: 1475-1513, 1565-1626
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Sleuthfully, -ie, Slouthfullie, adv. Also: slewthfullie. [Sleuthful(l adj. Cf. e.m.E. sloughtfully (1529), slouthfullye (1560), slothfully (1591).] In an idle, indolent or negligent manner, carelessly; sluggishly. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iii 234.
In our presoune her last quhen that he was Our sleuthfully [pr. slouthfully] our keparis leit him pas a1500 King Hart 611.
Ȝe did greit mis … That sleuthfullie suld lat ȝour tyme our sleif And cum this lait … gif ȝe be ane counsalour sle Quhy suld ȝe sleuthfullie ȝour tyme forsume 1513 Doug. xii v 40.
We … That now, thus sleuthfully, sa fant and fey Hufys still on thir feldis 1565–6 Reg. Privy C. I 430.
The samyn wes sleuthfullie left furth of the procurationis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 310.
That thing whilk he of dewtie and honor was bundin and obleist to accompleis and whilk he slewthfullie neglectit with oversight to lang a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 45. 1622-6 Bisset I 15/23 n.
Sic actis as these maist sleuthfullie overslydis(b) a1578 Pitsc. II 36/3.
I had rather die witht honour in defence of our natiue contrie nor to leif witht schame and tyne the same slouthfullie
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"Sleuthfully adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sleuthfully>
