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.
LEAVEN, n., v. Also levan, -(v)en, -in, liven.
Sc. usage. [′lɛvɪn, ′lɪvɪn]
I. n. A mixture of oatmeal and water, made up as a dough for oatcakes or as food for young poultry (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 256; Sh., Cai., Bnff., Ags., Fif. 1960).Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 228:
His mither was baking pease bannocks, up he gets a lump of her leaven into his mouth.Cai. 1891 D. Stephen Gleanings 132:
Geordie Gunn's dochter gave preens and levan till my dougie, and the dougie deed.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (17 Sept.):
Shü scraepit da levin oot o' da baesin wi' da mooth o' a horn loopik.Bnff.2 1931:
She's nae a gweed baker; she aye mak's her leaven ower weet.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 22:
Whin shu wis bakin', shu med dem peerie rabbits oot o' leven, stikkin' in twa curran's fur een.
II. v. To make up such a dough.Abd. 1923 L. Coutts Hotch Potch 16:
The wye the breid tae liven.
