Lambasting, a beating. Perhaps LUMB-BASTING, from the lumbar-regions.
Lamb’s wool, spiced ale, of which the butler at Brasenose every Shrove Tuesday supplies as much as is required at Hall, with a copy of verses on the subject, generally written by a Brasenose man. One of these poems began:—
| Antiquum et vetus est | { | Ale Æn Nas alienas | } | dicere laudes. |
Lamb’s wool is also a hot drink, well known to the community for centuries. Supposed by some to be derived from Lammas, at which time it was drunk, and by others to be derived from the similarity between the foam of the drink and the white wool obtained from lambs.
Lame duck, a stockjobber who speculates beyond his capital, and cannot pay his losses. Upon retiring from the Exchange he is said to “waddle out of the Alley.”
Lamming, a beating.—Old English, LAM; used by Beaumont and Fletcher. Not as Sir Walter Scott supposed, from one Dr. Lamb, but from the Old Norse, LAM, the hand; also, Gaelic.
Lammy, a blanket.
Land-lubber, sea term for “a landsman.” See [LOAFER].
Land-shark, a sailor’s definition of a lawyer.
Lane, a familiar term for Drury Lane Theatre, just as Covent Garden Theatre is constantly spoken of as “the Garden.”