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 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unlabo(u)rit, p.p. and ppl. adj. Also: unlaboryt, -ed, -laboured, -lauborit, -lawbourit, wnlawboryt, onlaboryt, -laboured. [Late ME and e.m.E. vnlabouryd (c1450), vnlabored (a1513), unlaboured (1586); Labo(u)rit ppl. adj.]

A. p.p. Of land: Untilled, uncultivated.(a) 1474 Reg. Cupar A. I 201.
Gif thar be ony of the tenandis forsaid that levis ony his land forsaid onlaboryt for wantyn of powar, or negligens … ane of our tenandis forsaid quhilk the abbot assignys sal labor sa fer as he levis vnlaboryt 1528 Cal. Charters Suppl. (Reg. H.).
At thair be halff ane ell off breyd on euerylk syd off the marche stanys to be free wnlawboryt for euer that the forsaydis stanys may be sen wntrubulyt in tyme to cum 1533 Boece 40b.
Thai now occupyit certane landis unlauborit be inhabitantis afore 1531 Bell. Boece II 229.
Unlaubourit 1567–8 Reg. Privy S. in Orig. Par. II ii App. 834.
Vnlawbourit a1595 Descr. Isles 434.
Romb … conteins mony deir, and for sustentation thairof the same is permittit unlabourit 1596 Dalr. I 123/29.
Leiue the ground 7 ȝeirs vnlabourit, quhair perchance ony slane persone hes bene buriit 1603 Aberd. B. Rec. II 239.
The commoun locht … sall … remain … vnlaborit or manvrit, to grow grass, and to serve onlie for that vse 1617 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 686.
Vnlabored 1622-6 Bisset II 274/7.
Quhasumevir … labouris … any pairt of his hienes muris … [and] lay nocht in the samin agane to remane unlaboured in communtie [etc.](b) 1650 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI 248.
That they went to a fauld and promesit to let it ly onlaboured als lang as they possessit ther taikis and in testification therof they did cast some stones in ower the dyk of the fauld

B. ppl. adj. Of flax: Not prepared or dressed. 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 223b.
Thrie thrievis of vnlabourit lint price xl s.