> as lemmas

a1425 (?c1375) N. Homily Legendary (Harl.) in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 155 (MED) Two blind men..lifed allane of þaire purchace; For þai war blind, men fand þam fode; Þarfore þam thoght þaire lifing gude.

1612 R. Rogers Certaine Sermons iv. ii. 103 Let him liue on his purchase, and take the benefit thereof, to the comfort of him and his.

c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1851) II. 329 Indeid he wes put to leive vpone his purchess, becauss he wold not follow his fatheris courss.

1710 T. Ruddiman in G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneis (new ed.) Gloss. (at cited word) He lives upon his purchase as well as others on their set rent.

1776 D. Herd Anc. & Mod. Sc. Songs (ed. 2) II. 234 There dwells a Tod on yonder craig,..He lives as well on his purchase, As ony laird or knight.

1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. (at cited word) We still say, He lives on his purchase, of one who has no visible or fixed means of sustenance.

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Purches To Live on one's Purchase, to support one's self by expedients or shifts. It had originally signified living by depredation.