Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

LEAVE, v.², n.

I. v. To give leave to, permit, allow (Ags., Per., Wgt., Slk., Uls. 1960). Rare.Ags. 1951 C. Sellars Open the Westport 180:
I dinna think my mother will leave me.

II. n. 1. Dismissal from a job, discharge, notice to leave, congé (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc. Hence to get or give leave.Ayr. c.1785 Ayrshire Wreath (1844) 103:
Before the shearers, young and stark, Get baith their fee and leave.Ags. 1893 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. xvi.:
But it wad be a kind o' against ye if ye got your leave.Kcb. 1896 Crockett Cleg Kelly lv.:
I hae gotten my fee an' my leave.Sc. 1899 E. F. Heddle Marget at Manse 59:
Lord Arranben was rale angered, and gied them a' their leave.

2. Permission to a pupil to leave the class-room during a school lesson, the interval of playtime in a school working-day. Cf. I. Also dim. leavie, pl. leavies, a snack taken by a school pupil to eat at the morning break (Rxb. 1975). Comb. leave-out (also leavins oot). Gen.Sc.Abd. 1881 J. W. Ritchie Geordie Tough's Squeel (1931) 13:
An' syne we got oor leavin's oot Tae play oorsel's an' rin aboot.Ayr. 1900 G. Douglas Green Shutters vii.:
He reached “leave,” the ten minutes' run at twelve o'clock, without misadventure.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Siptember 11):
Some kings is bit deevils 'at's gotten leave-oot.Ags. 1920 D. H. Edwards Men & Manners 219:
The solemn-looking old clock had apparently ever been an object of interest to the bairns — specially so, no doubt, at “leavie” and “piece”times.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 10:
The bairns new oot o the skuil for leave, gaed … rinnin aboot.