Obs. Also 5 letuse, -uce, letvis, 6 letewis, letuis, lettewys, lettis(e, -yce, -ys, -ushe, 6–7 letwis. [a. OF. letice, -is(s)e, etc., app. a. OHG. illitĭso, mod.G. iltiss polecat; but the application of the name has varied at different times.] A kind of whitish grey fur (Cotgr.). See also LITUIT.
[1363. Act 37 Edw. III. c. 12. Qels ne usent revers dermynes ne de letuses esclaire.
1373. in Exch. Rolls Scot., II. 440. In empcione trium timbrarum de letysses cum dimidio, et septem letisses varii precii.]
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 65. Her good and gay clothing, and furres of gray meniuere and letuse.
1457. Sc. Acts Jas. II. (1814), II. 49/2. As to þeir gownys þt na woman weir mertrikes nor letviss.
1502. Will of Wrattesley (Somerset Ho.). My secunde cap of letewis.
1542. Inv. R. Wardrobe (1815), 100. Ane gown … quhairof the slevis hes bein liynit with letuis.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., 25 Hen. VIII. (1809), 803. The lorde Chauncellor in a robe of Scarlet open before bordered with Lettice.
1662. Stat. Irel. (1765), II. 406. Letwis tawed, the timber, containing forty skins 8s. 4d.
b. attrib. and Comb., as lettice-bonnet, -fur; lettice-cap, a cap of this fur, apparently worn as a means of inducing sleep; lettice-ruff, a person wearing a ruff or collar of this fur.
1599. Minsheu, Sp. Dict., A *Lettice bonnet or cap for gentlewomen, v. Albanéga. [Ibid., Albanega, a kind of networke coife that women weare on their heads.]
1544. Will of R. Cressey (Somerset Ho.). *Lettys cappes.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., I. (1879), 69. Some weare Lattice cappes with three hornes, three corners I should saie, like the forked cappes of Popishe Priestes.
1619. Fletcher, M. Thomas, III. i. Bring in the Lettice cap. You must be shaved sir, And then how suddenly wee’l make you sleep. Ibid. (1621), Thierry & Theod., V. ii. K 2. Phisitians, some with glisters, Some with lettice caps, some posset drinkes, some pills.
1533. Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 20. Gownes of scarlett edged with white *lettushe furre.
1624. Fletcher, Wife for Month, II. iv. Is this *Lettice Ruffe your husband?
