Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Laft, n. [Later var. of Loft n., with usual a for o before f.] a. A loft or upper apartment built on the joists under the roof of a building or room. b. A gallery in a church. Also attrib. with durr.a. 1600-1610 Melvill 84, 85.
Ther was a student chalmerit abon a lafted leache seller, … The student colling his candle in a morning, the coll falles throw the laft, … we quenched the fyre befor it tuk hald of the gests and lafting aboveb. 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 22.
Robert Dickie deponit that he was in the Sessioun laft and saw nothing of the beginning of the tumwlt 1617 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II. 195.
[A joint petition from the Baxters and the Hammermen asking permission to erect] a laft [at the west end of the church] 1618 Stirling Merch. Guild 38.
The haill gildbreither to convene within thair awin laftis wpon sabbot day 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 74.
The kirk of Halyrudhous … sall be helped by removing of the lafts being within the said kirk and placeing of thame … whair the light of the kirk will not be impeded 1630 Kirkcaldy Presb. 17.
The stoole of repentance … to be affixed to the middest of the foir part of the laft 1636 Salmon Borrowstounness 339.
William Anderson … to buy the jeasts to the kirk laft 1653 Lesmahagow Ann. 128.
Thomas Porter denys … that he fought with the said Nicol in the seat of the common laft —attrib. 1641 Kirkcaldy Presb. 203.
For the upper laft durr