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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.

LEAFU, adj. Also leilfu. Lawful, legitimate, permissible, just. Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1803 Scott Minstrelsy III. 77:
Tell your sister Sarah, To come and lift her leafu' lord!
Sc. 1814 Scott For a' that i.:
The true and leilfu' cause at length Shall bear the grie for a' that.

[O.Sc. leful, permissible, proper, honest, from a.1400, Mid.Eng. leafful, leveful from leave, n. + fu(ll). Cf. Leesome. adj.2 The form leilfu is prob. due to confusion with Leal.]

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"Leafu adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/leafu>

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