Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1898
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‡LOY, adj., n., v. Also lowie (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), -y. [lɔɪ]
I. adj. Sluggish, inactive, lazy (Ags. 1825 Jam.). Hence loyness, inactivity (Ib.).Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 57:
He is waxin' auld, And fat and stiff and loy.
II. n. 1. A sluggard, a fat, lazy person (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.). Comb. †lowie-lebbie, one that loafs about where food is to be had (Ib.). Cf. Laib and Lo; 2. the loach, Nemacheilus barbatula, = Beardie, n.2, 2. q.v. Cf. Jam. "it is a dull fish, lying at the bottom of the water."
III. v. To loaf, lie about lazily, in ppl.adj. lowyin, idle, lounging (Ib.). See also Low, v.3
[Mid.Du. loy, Du. lui, lazy. Cf Yks. dial. loy, idle, close, of weather.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Loy adj., n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/loy>
