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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.

Lust, n. Also: luste, loost. [ME. and OE. lust.]

1. Pleasure, enjoyment, delight. Also plur. c1420 Wynt. ii. 59.
Fra thine hyr lust stwde halyly In slawchtyr and in lychory c1460 Thewis Wysmen 39.
Vysdome … is … suetar als and of mare lust Than erdly thing that man may gust c1420 Ratis R. (S.T.S.) 176/6.
Luf most thi God that fyrst thi lust began 1461 Liber Plusc. 386.
The lust is schort, joy has na day till ende 1490 Irland Mir. I. 108/13.
Mercy & Verite for gret lust and tendirnes has embrasit vthere a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1085.
[The king] hes na lyking lufe nor lust of me, Na I to him 1513 Doug. vii. x. 82.
The lust of all sik wark lomys was adew: Thai dyd thame forge in swerdis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 34.
This vyce [highway robbery] can not proceid of vengeance bot rather of lust and ples^sr in wickitnesplur. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 87.
I … denyit neuir nothir myne eine, myn eris na my appetyt thinge that thai desyrit of al lustis c1460 Thewis Wysmen .
Vysmen … Mayd compilaciounys … Sum of luf and paramouris, Sum of lustis and of delyte 1567 G. Ball. 26.
The flesche said, sen I haif haill, I will in ȝouth with lustis daill

b. With disapproval or condemnation: Sensual or vicious pleasure, self-indulgence, intemperance, excess. Also plur. a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 448.
How thane to lychory Vith al the luste folouandly I vndirlad me c1420 Wynt. iv. 172.
Swa chastyid he suld be Fra foule lust and inyqwyte Ib. v. 3635.
In mete and drynk off gret mesure, All lust off body he ourcome a1500 Henr. Fab. 53. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 75/8.
In my lust, plesance and wantones I haue nocht comfort thaim that has bene discomfort a 1500 MS. Rawl. Qb. 4. fol. .
The flesch … may men tytest bring To fleschly lust & erdly lyking And to al maner of wickit vice 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 93.
Be nevir our set … With lust of wyne nor warkis veneryane 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxxiv.
Afore thay wer effeminat with lust and intemperance of mouth Ib. xiii. a1538 Abell 44 b.
The Britonaris gaif thame to lust & plesans & principalie to ws of glutery c1552 Lynd. Mon. 9.
Sensuall luste c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiv. 67.
Befor the fluid … Thy tuik thair lust, as thai wor wod, And suddenlie wer lost 1622-6 Bisset I. 31/18.
He commanded … peopill desyrous moir for lust nor ony necessar sustentatioun to be exylitplur. c1420 Wynt. iv. 1928.
Thow suld … thé fra lustys to wertu gywe 1456 Hay I. 296/11.
Gif a king lyfis efter the lustis of the warlde and appetite of his flesch a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1314.
Lustis sensuall 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 74.
Sa mony as … couth induce him to new kynde of vicious lustis Id. Ib. (1821) II. 174.
All taverneris and provocaris of the pepil to intemperat diet or lustis 1528 Lynd. Dreme 291.
We … tuke … our lustis delectabyll 1558-66 Knox I. 48.
Gevin to the filthy loostis of the fleshe

2. a. Desire for pleasure, espec. sensuous, also for wealth etc. Chiefly with disapproval or condemnation: Desire for carnal pleasures, sinful desire; also, intemperate desire or ambition, greed. Also plur. c1420 Wynt. i. 1638.
Brynnand lust off cowatyis Ib. v. 377.
He wes … Off gret lust and off lychory 1456 Hay I. 284/20.
The religious men ar cled in blak wede … to … put away all lust of vanitee and vane glore warldly a1500 Henr. Fab. 1108.
Pilgrymes … Fechtand with lust, presumptioun, and pryde c1500 Fyve Bestes 48. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 459.
Judgis … suld be fre … Frome heycht, frome haitrent and frome luste a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxxvii. 3.
Be war to ryis in serving princelie lustplur. 1456 Hay I. 296/15.
The bestiale appetitis of sensualitee that is callit warldly lustis of the flesche c1460 Thewis Wysmen 178.
Thai ar lordis of thar awn cwrage, And haldis thar lustis at serfage 1562-3 Winȝet I. 8/19.
[Some] hauand regarde to the wrek of this warld or lustis of thair bodyis, leuis as Epicurianis c1590 J. Stewart II. 225. § 103.
O lat ws vorschip this our goddes deir [Vice] Quha dois content our fleschlie lustis heir 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 437.
Ȝe will see thir men that servis thair lustis the trakedest bodies that livis 1678 Welsh Serm. 545.
Lord, lend my passion, pride, worldly mindedness and all my other lusts a stroke this day

b. Appetite, desire for food or drink; also, with implied disapproval, greed. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2495.
The lust of mete als weill as pure as ryk Lustis of nature to euirie man alyke … away gais a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 82.
Schir Kay ruschit to the roist, … Lightly claught, throu lust, the lym fra the lyre c1508 Ch. & M. Pr. vii. c. 43.
Grete was the lust thou had for to fang The frute vetit a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxi. 5.
My lust alluirs my licorous lippis to taist The bait

c. Sexual desire or its indulgence. Chiefly with condemnation: Libidinous desire or conduct, lust. Also plur. a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 452.
To tel how I Had brynnand luste of lychory Ib. xxxi. 65, xxxiv. 52, 55. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1277.
Hyr feschly lust maid [hir] so ken That [etc.] Ib. i. 194, ii. 1492, v. 1457. a1500 Henr. Fab. 516.
In lust but lufe he set all his delyte a1500 Prestis of Peblis 827.
I am sa ful of lust and fantesy With this madyn 1490 Irland Mir. I. 103/9.
Quhat euir persoune lukit on hir, jncontinent all lust and carnale delit sessit jn thame c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 499.
Gif his lust be so lent into my lyre quhit That he be lost or with me lig Id. lxxxiv. 10.
Quhone the biche is … on rage Scho chesis … The foulest tyk quhill scho hir lust aswage 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 7.
[Love] Begynnyng with a fenȝeit faynt plesance, Continewit in lust and endyt with pennance Ib. 107.
Lust is na lufe 1549 Compl. 155/26.
The nychtis ar ouer schort to gentil men to commit there libedeneus lust a1568 Scott iv. 34.
Thocht bruckill wemen hantis In lust to leid thair lyvis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 45.
As the Quene … followit the appetyte of hir lust a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) No. 717.
Quhen a man is full of lust, his womb is full of leesings a1605 Montg. Sonn. lxx. 2.plur. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 559.
My mynd in fleschelie foull affectioun Was inclynit to lustis lecherous c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv. 6.
Thair lustis hes thame nureist so … That all thair traist is in thair god Cupeid

d. personified. a1568 Scott xxxi. 56.
Nocht [to] thoill lathly lust to leid ws 1598 Melvill Spirit. Propine 148.
When lust hir lykers sall destroy

3. One's ‘pleasure’, will, wish or desire, concerning anything; that which one wishes done in any connection.Also at one's aune lust, at one's own pleasure or choice, at will, freely.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii. 102.
The knycht … sayd hys lord mycht … Hym as he wald bathe hang and drawe; And swa he yhald hym till hys will On hym hys lust all to fulfill 1513 Doug. ix. iv. 40.
To thir twa was a will in vnyte, A lust and mynd in vniformyte 1596 Dalr. I. 233/12.
Throuch the gret lust and desyre that he had to amplifie the religione(2) c1420 Wynt. viii. 702 (W).
He send thaim sauf condyt … Frely for to cum and ga, At thare avne lust, to and fra