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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LEE, n.², adj. Also lea.

I. n. As in Eng., shelter, sheltered side or position, calm, peace. Hence phr. luve [ < nautical term luff] and lee, only poet. Combs. and phr.: (1) lee-gaw, a sign of bad weather in the sky opposite to the side from which the wind is coming (Cai., Rs., Mry. 1960). See Gaa; (2) lea-laik(e) [lee-tike], sheltered (Ayr., Wgt. 1960). Given as a n. by Jam.² = “a natural shelter for cattle, such as is produced by glens or overhanging rocks”; (3) lee-side, of a boiling pot: the side which boils less fiercely, the cooler side (Ork., Wgt. 1960); (4) to set at little lee, ? to give little peace to. This is the reading given by Caw. Child's emendation to eie, obs. Mid.Eng. form of awe, is most improbable (Hobie Noble in Ballads No. 189. xv.).Sc. 1802 J. Leyden Poet. Remains (1819) 85:
Then tun'd to plaintive strains their tongue, “Of Scotland's luve and lee.”Ags. 1894 A. Reid Songs 44:
Blossoms burst, an' birdies sing Sangs o' love an' lee sae cheerie.(2) Ayr. 1825 Jam.:
Lealaike-gair. Well-sheltered grazing ground; sometimes applied to the place where two hills join together, and form a kind of bosom.(3) Sc. 1736 Ramsay Proverbs (1776) 86:
Ye'se get your brose out of the lee side of the pot.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 50:
She was unco kind, and made me fat, fat brose out o' the lee side o' her kail pat.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 289:
Kail-brose — A mixture of the oily scum which gathers on the lee side of the broth pot, and oatmeal.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) 99:
To the lea side o' the pat wi' the ladle.(4)Sc. 1784 in G. Caw Museum 196: 
Aft has he beat our slough-hounds back, And set yourselves at little lee.

II. adj., from the n. used attrib.: sheltered, protected from the wind. Gen.Sc.Ayr. 1786 Burns Ep. to Mr. M' Adam v.:
A lee dyke-side, a sybow-tail, An' barley-scone shall cheer me.e.Lth. 1885 J. Lumsden Rural Rhymes 103:
Arise, Sam, and kittle up the olden Doric harp! Muslin brose, lee-dyke sides, seybies, and a deathless name for ever!Sh. 1898 Shetland News (24 Dec. ):
Men, hit's fine an' lee here.Ork. 1911 J. Omond Ork. 80 Years Ago 6:
In Sanday the people beuld or shut up the fairies in a lee place and so got rid of them for a while.