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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

LASH, n.¹ A great or forcible splash of water (Sc. 1825 Jam.), a heavy fall of rain (Sc. 1818 Sawers); a large or abundant quantity of things or persons (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Uls. 1924 Northern Whig (5 Jan.)). Gen.Sc.Knr. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 23:
The oaks cry oot beneath November's lashes.Ayr. 1896 H. Johnston Dr Congalton xiii.:
I declare it taks a lash o' siller to make a leddy noo-a-days.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (30 Dec.):
Dis lashes o' shooers is aneugh ta lay a body frae da life.Uls. c.1920 J. Logan Uls. in X-Rays 81:
A lash o' floor an' Indian meal men.

Comb. lashgelave, -lavy, lashiegelavery (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. Add.), lashangallaivie, profusion, abundance, esp. of good living (s.Sc. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 179; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Bwk., s.Sc. 1960). Also used adv.; “a term said to be taken from a well-known story concerning a tailor in Swinton-green” (Jam.) but appar. orig. a variant of the phr. lash an' lave, id. Cf. Ir. lashins and lavins and north dial. lushy-galavy. For -ge-, cf. happy-go-lucky.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 128:
Drinkin', squabblin', lash an' lave o' whorin'.e.Lth. 1899 W. Sinclair Sc. Life and Humour 110:
Be cannie wi' the milk, laddie; mind it's no lashangallaivie here as it is at hame.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
His wife has leev'd lashgelavy. It was lashgelavy wi' them.