Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1813-1934, 1998-2000
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LEEVE, v. Also leve (Rnf. 1876 J. Nicholson Kilwuddie 103); leave (Lnk. 1700 Session Rec. Carstairs MS. (18 Aug.); Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage xxxiv.; Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail liv.); leive (Rxb. 1874 Trans. Hawick Archaeol. Soc. 211; wm.Sc. 1928 J. Corrie Last Day 61); lieve (Uls. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 71; Lnl. 1908 J. White Pen Sk. 11). Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. live (Ayr. 1786 Burns Tam Samson's Elegy xvii.; Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel v., Ags. 1872 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. vi., Dmf. 1912 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo 18). [li:v, obsol. in ne. and em.Sc. (a)]
Sc. form of Eng. live.Arg. 1998 Angus Martin The Song of the Quern 52:
But we divna want tae think on war;
we haena got wan on ee noo.
We're leevin weel an sweir tae feel
aucht o the blast that ruint you.Fif. 1998 Tom Hubbard Isolde's Luve-Daith 5:
Throu the lang years I tholed your bannisment,
An my luve grew aa the mair;
Throu the lang years they telt me nocht o you,
Leevin or deid.w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 1:
Here lie the bones o a lonely Scot.
(He loved his country did he not?).
Aa this cringin had left him seethin,
noo, he's deid - an they're still leevin.
Hence 1. leever, liver, survivor; 2. ppl.adj., vbl.n. leevin, living, a living: (1) a living soul, a person, anyone (Ork., ne.Sc., Ags., Ayr., Gall. 1960); (2) food, fare (Ags., Ayr., Gall. 1960). Also living-kind (Uls. 1960); (3) a holding of land, a farm or estate; (4) comb. livin-like, lively, in good health (Cai., Abd., Ags., m.Lth., Gall. 1960). See also Life, 1. 3. Phrs.: (1) ill or weel to live, in poor or comfortable circumstances, (un)prosperous. See Ill, I. 10.; also jocularly weel to live = in a state of alcoholic well-being, tipsy; (2) to live aff, = Eng. to live on. Gen.Sc.1. Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 232:
I'm no surprised she wasna a lang leever.Lnk. 1910 C. Fraser Glengonnar 153:
A's left to the langest leever.2. (1) Ags. 1820 Montrose Chron. (29 Sept.):
Nae livin' could think o', nae language could tell!Slk. a.1835 Hogg Tales (1874 ) 430:
Did ever ony leevin' hear the like o' that!Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
"Oh, Meggy," says she, … "dinna mention't to nae leevin'."Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 223:
It wasna lang till I heard a queer story, though I never moothed it to a leevin'.(2) Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (May) 163:
Blessed living kind has nae passed atween this lad's lips for hours mae than I shall count.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie xii.:
I was very weel pleased wi' their tidy wee dishes, and likit their leevin.(3) Sc. 1813 Scott Rokeby i. xxi.:
Thy kinsman's lands and livings fair.Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Tales 220:
There's lordly seats an' livin's braw Amang the braes o' Gallowa'.(4) Edb. 1851 A. Maclagan Sketches 236:
Hoo are ye Rab, my honest frien'? Ye're livin' like, I see.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 106:
Baith livin' an' livin'-like.3. (1) Edb. 1827 M. & M. Corbett Odd Volume 274:
He had got baith his meat and his drink besides; for, as we sailor fouks say, he had ta'en his beer on board, for he was weel to leive.Slk. 1827 Hogg Shepherd's Cal. (1874) vi.:
George was what is called "a bein bachelor," or "a chap that was gayan weel to leeve."Dmf. 1836 Carlyle in Atlantic Monthly (1898) 295:
The Doctor looks very well and sonsy; he seems in good health and well to live.Bnff. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XIII. 295:
The land is not rack-rented, and the cultivators of the soil are in general what is called well to live.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
Dawvid, though he was weel to live, was richt gweed company.(2) Kcd. 1934 L. G. Gibbon Grey Granite 19:
I'm tired of College and I'm not going to live off you … Especially as you haven't much to live off.
