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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Lif(e)-, Lyflad(e, -lat(e, n. Also: lif(e)lait, lyfled(e, -lett, -lot, lifflot, lyvellit, lyvelot. [ME. (midl. and south.) and e.m.E. lif-, lyf-, life-, lijflod(e, live- (14th c.), lyvelod(e, north. livelade, -laid (Cursor M.), OE. líflád way of life and lifetime (OE. -lád way, course, also subsistence: see Lade n.¹). (Cf. Livelyhood.)]

1. Means of living, maintenance, subsistence. a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 169.
In a kyrk-ȝard done sat he … & ilke day thigyt his lyf-led At thame that passag by thare mad Ib. xxvi. 79.
Skantly had he the lyf-lad [: had v., p.t.] Ib. xxix. 533.
Gud men … tharfor sic reward hym mad That he gat clething & lyflad c1475 Wall. ix. 376.
My lyflat [ed. 1648, life-lait] is bot honest chewysance c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiii. 26.
Welcum, my benefice, and my rent, And all the lyflett to me lent c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark xii. 44.
This of hir pouerte kest … all hir liflade [P. lyuelode] Id. Ep. James ii. 15.
Gif a bruthir or sistir … haue nede of ilk dais liflade 1576 Montrose Burgh Papers (Prot. Bk.) MS. (Reg. H.) 28 Aug.
Anent the liflot [v.r. lyvelot] and sustentatione of David Meluill of Baldowie … that is four chalderis victuall for the first year 1650 Old Dundee I. 336.
For the said Alexander his better lyvellit in time coming

2. Bodily sustenance, food. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 280.
Wild hony wes his lyflede 1456 Hay II. 116/2.
Gif he takis mare of syk lyflade na nedefull is till his nature, he will be seke

3. Property as a means of support. a1500 Bernardus 385.
Nobyl men … Haffande liflate and land in heritagis 1494 Loutfut 121 b.
Thairfor his aeris may entre to the sammyn estait eftir the fader als weil as to lifflot Ib. 134 b.
For the gret honour that suld pertene to the noble ordour of knychtheid thai maid bot fewe othiris than them that had liflait sufficiently to hald wp the ordour in worschip; and thai that had liflat [etc.]