Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 3–5 underloute (4–5 -lowte), 4–6 underlout (4–5 lowt), 4 underlote, -lut(te, 4–6 -lute. (Also 3–5 vnder-, 4–5 vndir-, vndyr-, etc.) [Related to OE. underlútan: see UNDER-1 4 a and LOUT v.1 The second element may be a. ON. lútr adj., bending, stooping.]
† A. adj. Subject, subservient, submissive. Freq. const. to. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 678. Þe bestes boud him all aboute, Als to þair lauerd vnderloute.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 109. Underlout til thaim was he, Als god child au til elderes be.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xvii. 11. He made aungels vndirelout til man kynd.
1434. Misyn, Mending of Life, 117. In þe flesch if þou be tempyd, make it sugett, þat þe spiryt be not vndirlowt.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 787. Sho was … devoute To fulfille gods wille all gyven and vnderloute.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XIII. iii. 71. The chance of kyngis standis onderlout, To mekill dreid ay subiect.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, Aa iv b. Barbulas … was now at the checke of his vnderlout vassaile.
B. sb. 1. One who is subject or subordinate to another; an underling or servant; an inferior, Now dial. (see later quots.).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3705. Þi breþer be þin vnderlute [Gött. -lout], And alle þat wonnes þe a-boute. Ibid., 18206. Þe erthis werld … has ben ai Vr vnderlut als to þis dai.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 3877. Yhit may þai graunt Or þair power pardon aparty Til þair hawen underloutes anly.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 2. To wham Austeyn, Jerom, and Gregor tak awey þe name of þe bischop, or heldarman, þat he may be correctid of wnderlowtis.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 223. Sho made hur selfe … so grete ane vnderlowte, þat ilkone vggid with hur.
a. 1470. Harding, Chron., XXX. viii. Then stande he moste in parell to bee slain, Or els putte doune right by his vnderloute.
1684. Meriton, Yorks. Dial., 61. Thou’s nut think that Ile be thy Underlout.
1790. Grose, Prov. Gloss., Under-lout, a drudge in an inferior capacity.
1877. Peacock, N. W. Linc. Gloss., 264. Underlout, (1) a lazy servant-boy. (2) The least boy on a farm. (3) The weakest beast in a herd.
1886. Cole, S. W. Linc. Gloss., 158. Underlout,… the weaker pig in a sty,… the smaller and weaker trees in a plantation.
† 2. Some part of a ship. Obs. rare.
1495–6. Acc. Exch. K. R., 5/20 m. 1. In vno ligno ad vnderloute cum quatuor aliis lignis ad Stalmas … ix s. vj. d.
1546. Acc. High Treas. Scot., VIII. 486. Quhilk he debursit upoun the calfating, dok casting, putting in of the underlute of the said Lyoun and outred of hir to the raid.
