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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LEST, v., n. Also laist. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. last. [lest, lɛst, s.Sc. læst]

I. v. To last, to endure, to hold out, to stand up to wear and tear (I., n., em. and s.Sc. 1960; Sh., Ork., Bnff., Ags., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s). Common in s.Sc. greeting Hoo're ee lestin, how are you keeping?Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 43:
While our Maggy lests.
Sc. 1796 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 55:
Their quality to your ane taste I'm for referrin; Now's the time, as lang's they last.
Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes xci.:
It canna laist for ever.
Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 210:
Hallo Johnnie! hoo 'e lestin?
Rxb. 1925 Kelso Chron. (13 March) 4:
“Hoo'ree lastin', Maggie?” “Oh, no' that ill.”
Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 155:
Dis lests ta da 4th.
ne.Sc. 1979 Alexander Scott in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 70:
Sair heid frae here,
sair hert frae outbye thonder
-but whilk will stang
wi the shairper stob,
and whatten a stound
will laist the langer?

Hence adj. lestie, lastie, -y, lasting, durable (I., n., em. and s.Sc. 1960).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 210:
If you be hasty, you'll never be lasty.
Ork. 1774 Caled. Mercury (13 Aug.):
The peats taken out of it are uncommonly solid, heavy and lasty in the fire.
Sc.(E) 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xl. 20:
Wha-sae canna fa' siclike, he wales a bit lastie timmer.
m.Lth.1 1960:
A lestie sweetie — one that dissolves slowly in the mouth.
m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 21:
thare's nae licht in onie lift kin steal
the lang ladin o a lastie wae.

II. n. Durability, ability to last (Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Fif., m.Lth. 1960).Abd. 1904 Weekly Free Press (9 April):
They buy sic flimrikins o' things 't hae nae laist.
Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iii.:
A gran' wurker wi plinty o' ca throwe an' laist in 'im.

[O.Sc. lest, to continue, from 1375, continuance, 1487, O.E. lǣstan, id.]

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"Lest v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/lest>

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