A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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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.
Lawnes, n. Also Lauchnesse. [North. ME. lawnes (1340), midl. low(e)-, louhnesse (Ancren R.), humble condition or humility, ME. and e.m.E. lowness(e in physical applications (1398– ), f. Law a.] Lowness: humble condition; deepness; smallness in amount. —a. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 220.
It worthis hym [Christ] to grew til hicht & me [John] to lawnes [to] be dicht c1420 Wynt. v. 2622 (W).
Quha him prydis in great hycht To gret lawnes sal he licht c1520-c1535 Nisbet James i. 10.
And a meke bruthir haue glorie in his enhansing, and a riche man in his lawnesb. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 439 (T).
Be the hicht of the heavin, and lawnes of hellc. 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 368.
To Alexander Crystie in consideratioun of the lawnes of his waigis, he being thoght better worthie
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"Lawnes n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lawnes>