[OE. unlaʓu (UN-1 12), = ON. úlög (pl.), Icel. ólög, Norw. ulag, Sw. olag, MDa. ulog (Da. ulov).]
1. Illegal action; illegality.
After the early 14th cent. only in occasional Sc. use, but revived by recent writers.
1008. Laws Ethelred (Lieberm.), I. 236. Þæt man rihta laʓe up-arære & ælce unlaʓa ʓeorne afylle.
a. 1200. in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 195. Ich nelle suððen ðat man hym eny unlawe beode.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9705. Ȝuf … eni man made is apel, ȝuf me dude him vnlawe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19196. Þe lauerd þat bidd þe man wit-stand, Vnlau it es to tell in land.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 8795. Ȝyf þou dedyst euer þat vnlawe, A man oute of holy cherche to drawe.
1318. Sc. Acts Parlt. (1844), I. 471. Torth & noun raysoun quod dicitur wrang et unlaw. Ibid. (14[?]), 347/2. Bot þai hald na court of lyfe and lym bot of jniur and vnreson þat is to say wrang and vnlaw.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. Robt. I., 23. Sa lang as he or his preloquutour defends tort and non reason, that is, wrang and vnlach (that is to haue done na iniurie, nor vnreason agains the Law).
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., xxi. IV. 620. This state of things was what our fathers called unlaw. Ibid. (1876), xxii. V. 52.
1831. Pusey (title), Unlaw in Judgements of the Judicial Committee of Privy Council.
1883. Bp. E. H. Browne, Serm. Reading Congress, 15. The conflict between law and unlaw, between Christianity and irreligion.
† b. An evil custom or habit. Obs.–1
a. 1225. Juliana, 72. Bireowseð ower sunnen,… leaueð ower unlahen.
† 2. Sc. A fine or amercement; a penalty. Obs.
1424. Sc. Acts, Jas. I. (1814), II. 5/1. Quha sa euer be conuickit…, he sall pay xl. s. for þe vnlaw.
1459. in Laing Charters (1899), 37. Syndry unlawis amerciamentis and all uther fautis.
1496. Acta Dom. Conc., II. 2. Ane unlaw of xl s.
1541. Rec. Elgin (1903), I. 65. The baxstaris for thair falt salbe punist … with viii s. of vnlaw.
1613. in Northern N. & Q., I. 74. Under the payne of ane vnlaw of ane pound Fleymis.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xix. § 15. The Unlaw to be ten Pound.
1732. J. Louthian, Form of Process, 273. Fines, Amerciaments, or Unlaws inflicted upon Offenders,… are sometimes ordained wholly to be paid to the King.
1767. in Craig & Laing, Hawick Tradition (1898), 243. [He] is not worth the King’s unlaw, being on the Parish Roll or Poors List.
