Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1879-1956
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LAAV, v., n. Also lav, lauv (Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 8). [lɑ:v]
I. v. To hang loosely or limply; hence of a bird: to hover (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 132, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1960); of a person: to hang about in a restless, watchful manner (Jak.). Deriv. laaver, the ear of a cow, as used in riddle in quot.; adj. laavie-, in comb. ‡la(a)v(i)(e)-luggit, -ed, with drooping ears, of a horse or sheep, esp. one which has been improperly cut in marking (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1960). Also laavin-luggid, id. (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1960). See also Lave-luggit.Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (22 March):
I tink Thorval wis laavin' here aboot tinkin' ta get Minna ta promise ta come ta Aefirt' neist nicht.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (30 April):
Da first at I saw lavin' right abüne dem [lambs] wis da aern.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 182:
Four hingers and four gangers, Twa luckers and twa crookers, Twa laavers and ae dillie-daunder.Sh. 1956 New Shetlander No. 43. 22:
One of the lambs is mooskit-faced while the other is laavie-luggit.
‡II. n. Anything which hangs down loosely in clusters or droops, e.g. the lobe of the ear, the down of a feather, the ear of corn, loose leaves of straw; specif. the flower of tormentil, Potentilla tormentilla (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1960).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De lav o' a fedder, o' de strae, o' gloy, o' a sheaf, o' the lug.
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"Laav v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/laav>
