Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1894-1928
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LABERLETHIN, vbl.n. Also -an, -lackin, lebberlechan, -licken, leeber-, leiber-; libberlay (Abd. 1911 S.D.D. Add.). A long, rambling discourse (Sc. 1864 A. Wallace Sc. Tales III. 22; Ags. 1919 T.S.D.C.). Given as a tatterdemalion, phs. by confusion with Laib, I. 3. (2) (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 104, lebberlicken). [′lebər-]Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) vii.:
He gae a lang laberlethan aboot some o' the pictures.Lth. 1928 S. A. Robertson With Double Tongue 39:
But ca'd awa Their laberlethin on the first wrang, Auld Adam's fa'.
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"Laberlethin vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Jul 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/laberlethin>
