Kyx, "as dry as a kyx" (R[271],b), a dry, hollow stalk. "Elders they may bee, which being fullest of spungie pith, proue euer the driest kixes."—Pappe w. Hatchet (1589), Civ.
Lade, "by whom thou art lade" (IP[335],b), led.
Ladydom, "Chwas besiraunce your ladidom to see" (R[213],c). Mr. Magnus says "a new formation." Murray's first quotation is dated 1843.
Lady of Wolpit (IP[315],d), this should have been Woolpit, near Bury-St.-Edmunds. See Woolpit.
Lammas, "at the latter Lammas" (R[219],a), never: see Slang and its Analogues.
Lavatory, "that blessed lavatory" (M[3],c), a figurative usage: cf. "the lavatory of grace" (Pilgr. Perf., W. de W. 60b, 1526).
Lay, "hold for the lay" (JE[353],d), lake, pool: in the O.E.D. the latest quotation for the literary use of this word is 1481, later ones being taken from the early nineteenth century dialect glossaries. This example is therefore useful.
Lead, "I have no lead on my heels" (M[25],a), the "heel of lead" was proverbial for slow, unsprightly movement: cf. "Love, I am full of lead" (Shakespeare, Ant. and Cleop., iii. 11, 72).
Learn, "Titivillus can learn you many pretty things" (M[25],d), this present-day vulgarism was formerly in constant literary use. Wyclif in his first (1382) rendering of Prov. ix. 7 employed it—"Who lerneth a scorner," etc.: in the revised text of 1388 he substituted "techith."
Left Hand, see Hand.