layne, to conceal. Morte Arthur, leaf 399, back, 13; bk. xx, c. 1. In prov. use in Scotland and the north of England, see EDD. (s.v. Lane). ME. laynen, to conceal (P. Plowman, C. iii. 18). Icel. leyna, cognate with G. leugnen, to deny. See NED. (s.v. Lain).
laystall, a place where refuse is thrown aside. Spenser, F. Q. i. 5. 53; leystall, Drayton, Moses, bk. i. 115. See Nares. A Kentish word, see EDD. (s.v. Lay, vb. 2 (9a)).
laystow, a ‘laystall’. Stanyhurst, tr. Aeneid, iii. 628; ‘In comparison of this present, the ancient gardens were but dunghils and laistowes’, Harrison, Desc. Engl., bk. ii, ch. 20 (ed. Furnivall, 325); ‘Smythfeelde was . . . a layestowe of all order of fylth’, Fabyan Chron. vii. 226 (NED.). A north-country word, see EDD. (s.v. Lay, 2 (12)).
layte, lightning. Morte Arthur, leaf 353, back, 30; bk. xvii, c. 11. ME. leit, ‘fulgor’ (Wyclif, Matt. xxiv. 27). OE. lēget, also līgyt (Matt. xxiv. 27).
laze, to be lazy, to be listless. Greene, Alphonsus, i. Prol. (Melpomene); Never too Late (ed. Dyce, 301). In prov. use (EDD.).
leach, a dish consisting of sliced meat, eggs, fruit, and spices in jelly; ‘Leche made of flesshe, gelee’, Palsgrave; ‘Caudels, Iellies, leach’, Dekker, If this be not a good Play (Shackle-soul), Works, iii. 285. F. lèche, ‘tranche très mince’ (Hatzfeld). See NED.
lead: phr. to lead apes in hell, the fancied consequence of dying an old maid, Lyly, Euphues (ed. Arber, 87); Taming Shrew, ii. 1. 34; Much Ado, ii. 1. 42; ‘Mammola, an old wench . . . one that will lead apes in Hell’, Florio.
lead, a pot, cauldron, kettle. Tusser, Husbandry, § 56. 14; ‘Brewyng ledys’, pl., Bury Wills (ed. Camden Soc., p. 101). See EDD. (s.v. Lead, sb.1 6 and 7). In Lanc. ‘lead’ is used for a dyeing-vat; in the north country furnace-vessels, of whatever metal made, are so called, from having been usually made of that metal.
leaden dart. Cupid’s leaden dart caused dislike; his golden one incited to love, Massinger, Virgin-Martyr, i. 1 (Antoninus); Roman Actor, iii. 2 (Iphis). From Ovid, Met. i. 470.
leading-staff, a staff or truncheon borne by a commanding officer. Farquhar, Constant Couple, i. 1 (Smuggler); i. 2 (Parly).