Also 6 light a love, lightilove. [See LIGHT a.1 16.]
1. As predicative phr.: Inconstant in love.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 89. Ah wretched wench, canst thou be so lyght of loue, as to chaunge with euery winde?
1592. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instruct. Chr. Woman, N j. And if he should mary her, he wil thinke shee will have as good mind to other, as himselfe, when she is so light of love.
2. As sb. † a. Inconstancy in love. Obs.
1578. T. Proctor, Gorg. Gallery, E iij b. The fickle are blamed: Their lightiloue shamed.
b. A woman capricious or inconstant in love; also, in more unfavorable sense, a wanton, a harlot.
1599. Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt. (Percy Soc.), 35. Foule strumpet, Light a loue, shorte heeles!
1618. Fletcher, Chances, I. iii. Sure he has encountered Some light-o-love or other.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xii. You and I must part sooner than perhaps a light o’ love such as you expected to part with—a likely young fellow.
1892. J. Payn, Mod. Whittington, II. 167. ‘My Kitty a light-o’-love—a trollop—’ and the wretched father burst into tears.
attrib. 1589. Nashe, Anat. Absurditie, A ij. As there was a loyall Lucretia, so there was a light a loue Lais.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, B 2 b. To warne such light a loue wenches, not to trust euery faire promise that such amorous Batchelers make them.
1843. G. P. R. James, Forest Days (1847), 25. Following … his light-o’-love sweetheart to the dance.
† 3. The name of an old dance-tune. Obs.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. ii. 83. Best sing it to the tune of Light O, Loue. Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, III. iv. 44. Claps into Light a loue, (that goes without a burden,) do you sing it and Ile dance it.
1612. Two Noble K., V. iv. And gallops to the [tune] of Light a’ love.
