Also 6–7 laxe. [? f. LAX v.]
† 1. A laxative medicine, an aperient. Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 171. Pocyons, laxes,… and other medecynes.
1544. Phaër, Regim. Lyfe (1553), E j b. It is good to take an infusion or laxe of rubarbe.
2. Looseness of the bowels, diarrhœa (in men and cattle); = LASK sb.1 Obs. exc. dial.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), Q ij. Often changing his sheets and his clouts, because he had an exceeding laxe.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xxii. (1870), 286. Maces … is good for the blody flyxe and laxes.
1573. Tusser, Husb., xix. (1878), 53. Which so, if ye giue, with the water and chalke, thou makest the laxe fro thy cow away walke.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 298. The lax or bloudy flix.
1610. Markham, Masterp., I. lxx. 147. Of the Laxe, or too much scouring of Horses.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 216. If the Lax or Scouring continues too long upon him.
1770. Hanly, in Phil. Trans., LXI. 133. She was seized with a smart lax.
1876. in Whitby Gloss.
1877. N. W. Linc. Gloss., Lax, a looseness of the bowels. See Lask.
transf. 1577. Fulke, Two Treat. agst. Papists, II. 366. Being trobled with a sore laxe of the tongue, which I take to be a like disease in ye mouth that it is in ye wombe.
3. ? Relief, release. rare–1.
a. 1800. Bonny Baby Livingston, xviii. in Child, Ballads (1890), IV. 233/2. O wherefore should I tell my grief, Since lax I canna find?
