Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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.

Litil(l)-hous, n. Also: litell, -le, littil, -le, lytill, -le and house, hows. [Hous n.¹] a. A small detached building, a small house or a hut. b. A smaller building adjoining another one. c. A small apartment within a building. d. A privy (as also in mod. Sc. and Eng. dial.). 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 25.
For viii dosoun fyrn sparris for cuppillis to the ii masonis luggis and the litill hous for the mason lwmys keping in the abbay kirkyard 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. 188 b. (30 Dec.).
Scho sal haif … the lytill hous inhabeit be Covltard, the vyf, at the said Jhone setting 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 320.
In the constabellis chalmer at the yett [of Dumbarton Castle] ane stand bed with ane little hous for ane dry stule 1594 Charteris Pref. Wall. in Misc. Bann. C. III. 168.
He apprehendit him [Wallace] quyetlie in ane lytle hous besyde Glasgow at his rest 1597 Anal. Scot. I. 301.
The croce … hingin with tapestrie, ane litell hous besyd the samen coverit siclyk with tapestrie, quhairin the musicianis war placit 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 238.
That Archibald Faullis, maister of work, … theik and repair the lytill hows that enteris in to the New Kirk 1611 Brechin Test. II. 122.
The tymmer of tua lytill houssis with doris & dor cheikis 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 41.
To Johne Lang for tua dayes wark in taking doun the litle hous besyde the hall 1622 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 32.
Drinking in ane littell hous within the said dwelling hous 1637 Kirkcaldy Presb. 118.
A number of litil houses being put up, bot ar not comptit heir c1650 Spalding I. 44.
His wyf … took in ane littil hous … pertening to the aire of hir husbandis lait slayne brother sone, mynding thaire to remane 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 13 April.
The magistrattis and counsell condicendis that the lytle hous builded be Bessie Lowrie within Sainct Androis kirk wallis sould be casten doune 1676 Rothesay B. Rec. 348.
Craveing libertie of soe much ground att the north end of the gavill of his house att the shore as will build ane litle house 1706 Lanark B. Rec. 273.
The unreasonable imposition upon his aiker … of five shilling four pennies of land maill, because of ane little house builded therupon