Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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LAY, n.² [le:]

1. The framed part of a weaving loom in which the reed is fixed and which rocks backwards and forwards striking home each successive weft thread to form the cloth, the batten (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Ork., Ags., Fif., Ayr., s.Sc. 1960). Also in Eng. dial.Fif. 1757 E. Henderson Ann. Dunfermline (1879) 469:
It [the gallows] was sawn up and converted into the lay of a loom.Rnf. 1805 G. McIndoe Poems 10:
The lay hung gleed, the keels forgotten.Fif. 1815 J. Fernie Hist. Dunfermline 56:
In working these diapers, three persons were necessary; two in the operation of weaving, one of them at each end of what is called the lay; the shuttle being thrown through the web, from the one to the other.Gsw. 1863 J. Young Ingle Nook 94:
While, to the music o' the lay, At auld Scotch sangs he lilted aye.Slk. 1885 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 646:
And I listen through the hoose For the chappin' o' the lay.Ags. 1893 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. xii.:
The lay's dune, the cam's dune, the treddles are dune, an' the very beam's worm-eaten.Ayr. 1910 in J. Macintosh Poets Ayr. 235:
To drive the lay wi' cheerfu' clatter, An' gar the shuttle scrieve.

2. A turning-lathe. Gen.Sc., obs. in Eng. See etym. note.Sc. 1902 N.E.D. s.v. Lay, n.⁸:
In parts of Scotland, the turning lathe is still called lay.Abd. 1909 C. Murray Hamewith 21:
The cauper left his turnin' lay.