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.

Likelyheid, n. Also: lykelyhead(e. [e.m.E. likelehede (1495), lykelyhed(e (Caxton, 1533).] = Liklyhede. Also be all lykelyehead, see Likelyhode,n. — 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 58.
He, quhen he had anis befoir offerit the Hammiltounis his seruice to murther the Erle of Murray, gaif thairby ane likelyheid that, upon hope of greiter gayne, he wald not stick [etc.] Ib. 89.
[They] haue exceidit not only all measure of crueltie but also all likelyheid that it can be credibill 1620 Mar & Kellie MSS. Suppl. 104.
The armyes are greate on bothe sydes, and be all lykelyeheade thaye are at Prage before this tyme, or then thaye have fothin a battell 1623 Ib. 162.