Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LIG, v.2, n. Freq. in redupl. forms lig(g)lag(g), leg-laig, leigllaig (Abd. 1932 Sc. N. & Q. (Feb.) 24).
I. v. To talk a great deal, to chatter, prate, gossip (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 105, Bnff. 1960).Ayr. a.1843 J. Stirrat Poems (1869) 87:
For sic a gaballing, ligg-lagging and scauling.Edb. 1861 J. McLevy Curiosities of Crime 106:
I saw him lig-lagging wi' the woman opposite my window yesterday.Bnff. 1937 E. S. Rae Light in Window 10:
You've been lig-laggan again wi' that idle cretter Peter Speedie, the postie.
II. n. Chatter, idle talk, the noise of many people talking, noisy unintelligible talk, a gabble (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. a.1813 A. Murray Hist. Eur. Langs. (1823) I. 331:
Lig-lag (Scotch, for the confused noise of geese, etc.).Sc. 1825 Jam.:
Such is the term which a lowlander applies to a conversation in Gaelic; Sic a lig-lag as they had.Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 129:
There's sic a leg-laig an' a clatter. Upon the street.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 105:
A hard the lig o' thir tungs lang afore a got in aboot.Abd. 1921 W. Walker W.-L.:
“A lang leg-laig and a short cullyshangie”, the hubbub preliminary to a row.
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"Lig v.2, n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/lig_v2_n>