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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1420, 1490-1626
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Licherous, Lichor(o)us, a. Also: licher-, lycher(o)us, -ows, licharus; lytchorus. [North. and north mid;. ME. lichero(u)s (a 1330) lecherous, also e.m.E. lichor-, lychorous (Caxton) gluttonous (person), rich (food): commoner Sc. var. of Lecher(o)us.] Lecherous. Of a person, his actions, thoughts, etc., and transf.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xlii. 11.
Lycherus als c1420 Wynt. vi. 2124.
Thare wes nane than Swa lycherous a lyvand man c1500-c1512 Dunb. l. 42.
He wes ane licherous bull 1622-6 Bisset II. 165/3.
Ane licherus bludie tiran(b) a1500 Henr. Orph. 491 (Asl.).
Broukle and lichorus 1490 Irland Mir. I. 136/33.
The rebald and lichorus man 1531 Bell. Boece II. 224.
Chaist men [degenerated] in lichorus velanis a1538 Abell 7* b.
Lytchorus Kyng Sardinapail rang 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 217.(2) 1533 Gau 16/14.
Quhairthrow thay … thinkkis lichorus thochttis 1535 Stewart 3470.
Lubrik and lous, with licherous appetyte 1535 Ib. 26967.
The Britis … War sopit so with sensualitie, With gluttony and lichorus appetyte 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1100. a1568 Scott i. 63.
Thair fylthy licherous lyvis 1567 Satirical Poems iv. 28.
Hir licherous luife, quhilk kindlit ouer hait 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 216.
Ȝit war his factis sa lichorus [B. licharus] That [etc.](3) 1596 Dalr. I. 314 marg.
Lawis maist filthie and licherous he depriues
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"Licherous adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/licherous>
