Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LEETANY, n. Also leet(i)ny. A long rambling story, a rigmarole, a meaningless form of words (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Sh., ne.Sc. 1960).ne.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 42:
I had to listen to a litany about his brother's wife.Abd. 1892 Innes Rev. (Spring 1956) 20:
I thocht it a gey like leetany to hear them at the Grammar.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 92:
For gien's that leetiny [repeating a verse] I'll tell ye something ye wid like richt tae ken.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 24:
Gweed-mornin comes like a leetny aff my tongue.