subs. phr. (old Scots’).—An insolvent debtor: spec. of one sheltered in the sanctuary of Holyrood Abbey.

1

  1709.  FOUNTAINHALL, Decisions, II. 518. If he offered to go back to the Abbey, and was enticed to stay, and hindered to go.

2

  c. 1776.  Cock Laird [HERD, Ballads, II. 36].

        When broken, frae care
  The fools are set free,
When we make them COCK LAIRDS
  IN THE ABBEY, quoth she.

3

  1861.  CHAMBERS, Domestic Annals of Scotland, III. 349. The ABBEY LAIRDS … were enabled to come forth on that day [Sunday], and mingle in their wonted society.

4