Lay-figure, lā′-fig′ūr, n. a jointed figure used by painters in imitation of the human body, as a model for drapery: a living person or a fictitious character wanting in individuality.—Also Lay′-man.
Lazar, lā′zar, n. one afflicted with a loathsome and pestilential disease like Lazarus, the beggar.—ns. Lā′zar-house, a lazaretto; Laz′arist, a member of a R.C. order, the Congregation of the Priests of the Mission, founded by St Vincent de Paul in 1624.—adj. Lā′zar-like, like a lazar: full of sores: leprous. [Fr. lazare—L.,—Gr. Lazaros, in the parable in Luke xvi.—Heb. El‛āzār, 'he whom God helps.']
Lazaretto, laz-a-ret′ō, n. a public hospital for diseased persons, esp. for such as have infectious disorders: a prison hospital: a place where persons are kept during quarantine.—Also Laz′aret. [It. lazzeretto.]
Lazaroni, laz-a-rō′ni, n. Same as Lazzaroni.
Lazuli, laz′ū-lī. See Lapis-lazuli, under Lapidary.
Lazulite, laz′ū-līt, n. a mineral of a light, indigo-blue colour, occurring in quartz and in clay-slate.
Lazy, lā′zi, adj. disinclined to exertion: averse to labour: sluggish: tedious.—v.i. Laze, to be lazy.—adv. Lā′zily.—ns. Lā′ziness, state or quality of being lazy; Lā′zy-bed, a bed for growing potatoes, the seed being laid on the surface and covered with earth dug out of trenches along both sides; Lā′zybones (coll.), a lazy person, an idler; Lā′zy-jack, a jack constructed of compound levers pivoted together; Lā′zy-pin′ion (see Idle-wheel).—n.pl. Lā′zy-tongs, tongs consisting of a series of diagonal levers pivoted together at the middle and ends, capable of being extended by a movement of the scissors-like handles so as to pick up objects at a distance. [M. E. lasche—O. Fr. lasche (Fr. lâche), slack, weak, base—L. laxus, loose.]
Lazzaroni, laz-a-rō′ni, n. name given to the lowest classes in Naples, idle beggars, with no fixed habitation or regular occupation:—sing. Lazzarone. [It.]
Lea, lē, n. a meadow: grass-land, pasturage.—Older forms, Lay, Lee, Ley. [A.S. leáh; cf. prov. Ger. lohe, loh, found also in place-names, as Waterloo.]
Leach, lēch, v.t. to wash or drain away by percolation of water, esp. to make lye by leaching ashes—also Letch.—ns. Leach′-trough, -tub, a trough or tub in which ashes are leached.—adj. Leach′y, liable to be leached, letting water percolate through. [A.S. leccan, to moisten.]