Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LEISURE, n. Also Sc. forms: leeshure; leezure (Gal. 1929 Gallovidian 25); leasure (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxi.), †laizour (Sc. 1725 Analecta Sc. (Maidment 1834) I. 311), laeser, -ir (Sh. 1898 Shetland News (29 Jan.)), leiser (Abd. 1868 G. MacDonald R. Falconer xi.), layzer (Bnff. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (30 Dec.) 6). Hence ppl.adj. laesird, advs. leisur'-like (m.Lth., Ayr., Wgt. 1960), leeshurely, comb. a[= on] leasure, at leisure, in a leisurely way. [′li:ʒər, ‡′ləiʒər, Sh., s.Sc. + ′liz- (D.S.C.S. 127)]Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 38:
A leasure, as Lairds dies.Abd. 1871 R. Matheson Poems 149:
He has nait'rally eneuch gane awa, nae rinnin' an' fleein', but geyan leisur'-like.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 109:
Wi laesird, stately steps folk cam, An aa wir bound wan wye.
