laver, drooping, hanging down; ‘this laver lip’, Marston, Sat. v. 97. See [lave].
lavolta, the name of a lively dance, orig. for two people. Hen. V, iii. 3. 33. Ital. la volta, the turn, ‘a French dance so called’ (Florio).
†lavoltetere, one who dances (and teaches) the lavolta. Fletcher, Fair Maid of the Inn, iii. 1 (Host).
law, to give, to allow so much start, about twelve-score yards, to a hunted animal. B. Jonson, Sad Sheph. ii. 2 (near the end); Drayton, Pol. xxiii. 337; ‘She shall have law’, Heywood, Witches of Lancs. ii (Shakstone); vol. iv, p. 199.
lay, law. Spenser, F. Q. ii. 10. 42; esp. religious law, hence, a religion, creed, a faith; ‘ ’Tis Churchmans laie and veritie To live in love and charitie’, Peele, Chron. Edw. I, B 3 (NED.). ME. lay, religion, faith (Chaucer, C. T. B. 376). Anglo-F. lei, ‘loi, loi religieuse, religion’ (Chans. Rol. 85).
lay, a ‘lea’, meadow. Spenser, F. Q. iii. 8. 15; adj. fallow, unploughed, ‘Let . . . land lie lay till I return’, Fletcher, Love’s Pilgrimage, iii. 3 (Sanchio). ME. lay, ‘lond not tyllyd’ (Prompt. EETS.); laie, fallow (Gamelyn, 161). See NED. (s.v. Lea, adj.).
lay, a wager. 2 Hen. VI, v. 2. 27; Othello, ii. 3. 330; Cymb. i. 4. 159. In prov. use in Yorks., Midlands, and E. Anglia, see EDD. (s.v. Lay, sb.1 20).
lay, to beset with traps; ‘All the country is laid for me’, 2 Hen. VI, iv. 1. 4; Middleton, A Chaste Maid, iv. 1 (near end); iv. 2 (Tim); A Trick to Catch, i. 2. 3.
lay: phr. to lay in (or a) water, to make nugatory, to bring to a standstill, Lyly, Euphues, p. 34; Mydas, iv. 4 (Martius); Gosson, School of Abuse, p. 21. See NED. (s.v. Lay, vb.1 25).
lay, to lie; ‘Nature will lay buried a great Time, and yet revive’, Bacon, Essay 38. For exx. of this intrans. use see NED. (s.v. Lie, vb.1 43), and EDD. (s.v. Lie, 16).