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.
LIFT-HAUSE, n. “Said to be an old term, denoting the left hand. I strongly suspect, however, that it is a cant or gipsy designation” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).
[This is most unlikely. The second element may be a misreading of -hanse, from Hand, the -se representing either a possessive or adv. genitive.]
