Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1744-1823, 1877
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DOLESS, adj. Lazy. lacking in energy, improvident. Also doeless, dooless (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang.: Dmf. 1950 (per Fif.17); Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.; Uls.1 c.1920), dolus, -os (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)), düless (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Slg.3 1940), duless (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), daaless (Angus), doaless (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Cf. Daeless, Dowless. [′døləs, ′do-, ′du-]Sc. 1744 Session Papers, Petition Lady Houstoune 30:
These Tortoises very much resemble you, they being equally stupid, slow, and doeless.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 41:
Whaur ill vaige is du been a' day, du püir, simple, düless, saft-head snüol dat du is.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems, etc. 148:
Hard is the fate o' ony doless tyke, That's forc'd to marry ane he disna like.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. xii.:
She was wae to see so braw a gallant sae casten down, doless, and dowie.
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"Doless adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/doless>
