Obs. exc. Sc. Forms: 1 láf, 2 (to) lafon, 3 loave, 3–5 law(e, 4 laf(e, laffe, 4–7 laif, laiff(e, layfe, -ff, 6 le(a)ve, 7 laiv, 4– lave. [OE. láf = OFris. láva, OLG. léva, OHG. leiba, ON. leif, Goth. laiba:—OTeut. *laiƀâ str. fem.; for the further etymology see LEAVE v.] What is left, is over, or remains; the remainder, the rest. a. of persons. (In OE. the word had also the sense ‘relict, widow.’)

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a. 1000.  O. E. Chron., an. 867 (Parker MS.). Sio laf wiþ þone here friþ nam.

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c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, Andreas, 987. Syne þe lawe ine þar degre War to met set.

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1375.  Barbour, Bruce, II. 306. The lave sone wnarmyt war.

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c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 446. With lordis of Scotland, lerit, and the laif.

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c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, II. 175. All weildand God, resawe My petows spreit … amange the law!

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1513.  Douglas, Æneis, V. ii. 67. Quham followis all the laif in lyke maneir.

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1573.  Satir. Poems Reform., xxxix. 228. As for the leue, thair wes bot lytill leid.

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1664.  Flodden F., I. 9. Of doughty Knights the lusty lave I never could by name repeat.

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1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. My Peggy speaks sae sweetly, To a’ the lave I’m cauld.

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1786.  Har’st Rig, 45. Auld Rodney … didna loiter like the lave.

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1816.  Scott, Antiq., xlv. ‘Auld Mucklebackit’s gane wi’ the lave.’

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1881.  Lucy B. Walford, Dick Netherby, v. 57. ‘Gif her ain fayther has his fling at my puir bairn, it’s like the lave will follow.’

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  b.  of things.

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971.  Blickl. Hom., 111. Hwæt biþ la elles seo laf buton wyrma mete.

15

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 168. Nis þis large relef? Nis þis muchel loaue?

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a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7116. His wijf fader and moder he gaue O þis hony at ete þe laue.

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c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, Paulus, 351. Paulis hed, þat þar wes hyd A-mange þe lafe, a hyrd has tane.

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1427.  Sc. Acts Jas. I. (1814), II. 15/1. Þe quhilkis commissaris sal haf ful ande playn power of all þe laif of þe schirefdome.

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c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1306. Half his brede his horse he gaue, And kepid to him self þe laue.

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1530.  Lyndesay, Test. Papyngo, 825. Androw and Ihone did leif thare possessioun, Thar schippis, & nettis, lyinnes, and all the laue.

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1583.  Satir. Poems Reform., xlv. 224. Five hundreth merkis he to him gave, And tuik in hand to pay the leave.

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1721.  Ramsay, Prospect of Plenty, x. Excepting some wha a’ the lave will nick.

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1785.  Burns, Jolly Beggars, Air v. Your every care and fear May whistle owre the lave o’t.

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1816.  Scott, Old Mort., vi. I’ll pay the lave out o’ the butter siller.

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1865.  G. Macdonald, A. Forbes, 44. Jist help me oot, an’ lea the lave to me.

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  † c.  in adj. phr. To lave = remaining, surviving.

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971.  Blickl. Hom., 79. Þa hi ʓyt ʓenaman þæs folces þe þær to lafe wæs … hund teontiʓ þusenda.

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a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 221. Þe niȝon werod, þe þer to lafon were.

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c. 1205.  Lay., 28583. Þa nas þer na mare i þan fehte to laue.

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