Chapter L

Lafter, C, a brood of chickens, etc.; also a setting of eggs.

“I hevn’t a ne’bour ’ill lend me a _lafter_ of eggs.”
Said by a farmer’s wife.

Laik, C, play.

“But _laiks_ at wate-not-whats within
O’ Sunday efterneun.”
_Relph._ After Horace.

Laikins, C, playthings, toys.

“Here’s babby-_laikins_—rowth o’ spice,
On sto’s an’ stands extended.”
_Stagg._ Rosley Fair.

Lait, C, seek.

“Lads i’ t’ dark meade rampin’ wark
Or cloaks an’ clogs were _laitit_.”
_Mark Lonsdale._ The Upshot.

Lal, C, (in the northern and southern parts, Lile) little.

“I _lal_ thowte fasts sec fearful things to bide.”
_Relph._ St. Agnes’ Fast.

Lap, C, wrap.

“_Lap’t_ my cranky neckcloth round his heid.”
_Graham._ Gwordie and Will.

Lave, S, the rest, remainder.

“When a’ the _lave_ gang to their bed,
I wander dowie up the glen.”
Song—Heelan’ Harry.

Lawin, S, a public house reckoning.

“Gude wife, count the _lawin_,
An’ bring a drappie mair.”
_Burns._ Song.

Leal, or Leil, S, true, pure, loyal.

“O gi’e me a token o’ love, sweet May—
A _leil_ love-token true.”
_A. Cunningham._ The Mermaid.

Leàne, your leàne, his leàne, etc., S and C, lone, solitary.

“An’ when, sweet lassie, you’re ye’re _leàne_,
This heart o’ mine wad joy to know.”
_Miss Blamire._ The Toiling Day.

Leàth, C, a barn.

“Why ne had thou put the capel in the _lathe_.”
_Chaucer._ The Reeve’s Tale.

Ley, C, a scythe.

“Clogs, splinter new, bass-boddom’d chairs,
An’ _lea_-stanes for new _lea_ses.”
_Stagg._ Rosley Fair.

Lichtly, S, to make light of.

“The lass that _lichtlies_ may lament.”—Proverb.

Lilt, S and C, a lively tune or song; or, as a verb, to sing merrily.

“Now haste ye turn King David ower,
An’ _lilt_ wi’ holy clangour.”
_Burns._

It means also to rise on the toes in walking. Diomed’s walk had a _lilt_ in it, as described by Ulysses, thus—

“I ken the manner of his gait,
He rises on the toe: that spirit of his
In aspiration lifts him from the earth.”
_Shakspeare._ Troilus and Cressida.

Lippen, S, to trust.

“Ye’ll deceive nane but them that _lippen_ to ye.”—Proverb.

Lirk, S and C, a wrinkle or fold.

“Sup sūm poddish, an’ tak’ t’ _lirks_ oot o’ thy skin.”
Said to a rustic convalescent.

Lish, C, active.

“When I was a _lish_ laughing lass o’ sixteen.”
_Anderson._ Auld Robby Miller.

Loan, S; Lonning, C, lane.

“The kye stood rowtin’ in the _loan_.”
_Burns._ The Twa Dogs.
“The lads an’ the lasses i’ t’ _lonning_
Wer’ pairin’ like sparrows i’ t’ spring.”
_Anon._ Raffles Merry-Neet.

Lock, C, a number or quantity.

“A gay _lock_ o’ fwoke hed gedder’t up i’ time to gang tillt’ kurk, an’ away they struttit.” _Dickinson._ Lamplugh Club.

Lofe, C, a chance of anything, an opportunity.

“Yance I hed t’ _lofe_ an’ I’d luck to say no, an’ I niver hed t’ _lofe_ ageàn.“—Said by an elderly spinster.

Lonter, C, lounge, or loiter.

”_Lonterin’_ fwoke’s ola’s lazy fwoke.”—Proverb.

Loon, S, rogue.

“I tint my curch an’ baith my shoon;
Ah! Duncan, ye’re an unco _loon_.”
Duncan Gray—Old Version.

Loot, S, stoop.

“He _lootit_ doon her lips to kiss,
O kiss foreboding woe.”
_C. K. Sharpe._ The Murder of Carlaverock.

Lowe, S and C, a flame.

“To touch the glass her hand hes touch’d
It sets them in a _lowe_.”
_Anderson._ The Thursby Witch.

Lown, or Lownd, S and C, calm, still.

“Your chamber’s very dark, fair maid,
The nichte is wondrous _lown_.”
Ballad—Sir Roland.

Lowp, S and C, leap.

“_Lowp_ off the steed, says false Sir John,
Yere bridal bed ye see.”
Ballad—May Colean.
“My heart keeps such a rout,
It _lowps_ an’ _lowps_ as if it wad _lowp_ out.”
_Ewan Clark._ Costard’s Complaint.

Lowpy-back, C, leap-frog.

“Ye’ve been laikin at _lowpy-back_ o’ t’ rwoad heàm.”
Part of a scolding.

Lugs, S and C, ears.

“I’ll lay my _lugs_ in Pindus’ spring,
And invocate Apollo.”
_Ramsay._
“Kursty, souple gammerstang,
Ned Wilson brong his _lug_ a whang.”
_Anderson._ The Worton Wedding.

Lum, S, chimney.

“Sic reek as is therein maun come out at the _lum’s_ top.”
Proverb.

Laigh, S, low.

“She lookit hiche to the bodynge hill,
An’ _laighe_ to the darklynge deane.”
_Telfer._ The Gloamin’ Bucht.