Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LAAV, v., n. Also lav, lauv (Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 8). [lɑ:v]

I. v. To hang loosely or limply; hence of a bird: to hover (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 132, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1960); of a person: to hang about in a restless, watchful manner (Jak.). Deriv. laaver, the ear of a cow, as used in riddle in quot.; adj. laavie-, in comb. ‡la(a)v(i)(e)-luggit, -ed, with drooping ears, of a horse or sheep, esp. one which has been improperly cut in marking (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1960). Also laavin-luggid, id. (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1960). See also Lave-luggit.Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (22 March):
I tink Thorval wis laavin' here aboot tinkin' ta get Minna ta promise ta come ta Aefirt' neist nicht.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (30 April):
Da first at I saw lavin' right abüne dem [lambs] wis da aern.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 182:
Four hingers and four gangers, Twa luckers and twa crookers, Twa laavers and ae dillie-daunder.Sh. 1956 New Shetlander No. 43. 22:
One of the lambs is mooskit-faced while the other is laavie-luggit.

‡II. n. Anything which hangs down loosely in clusters or droops, e.g. the lobe of the ear, the down of a feather, the ear of corn, loose leaves of straw; specif. the flower of tormentil, Potentilla tormentilla (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1960).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De lav o' a fedder, o' de strae, o' gloy, o' a sheaf, o' the lug.