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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

UNLUESOME, adj. Also unlusum; -loesome, -loosome (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.). Sc. forms of obs. Eng. unlovesome, unlovely, unattractive, unpleasant, repulsive (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I.Gl., 1825 Jam., unlusum). New chiefly liter. Hence unluesome-like, id. Also used adv. See luvesome, Luve, I. 1. (4), Wanliesum.Per. 1774 Gentleman & Lady's Weekly Mag. (15 April) 371:
But now he in the ground does rot; Unlo'esome tale!Lth. 1813 G. Bruce Poems 176:
O! Poortith! Ye unlo'esome hag.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 41:
Condemned to mak her bread by such unluesomelike thumping and kicking.Peb. 1838 W. Welsh Poems 19:
Frae a lang unloesome gasp His breath did blaw.m.Sc. 1842 A. Rodger Stray Leaves 147:
A vulgar, fat, unloesome hotch, Beside him lolling.Abd. 1844 W. Thom Rhymes 85:
And aye the licht's unlo'esome dawn Brang life an' love to a' but me.Kcb. 1898 T. Murray Frae the Heather 149:
This unlo'esome-tasted stuff.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.:
An unloesome cairl.