Forms: 5–6 lavas, lavage, 6 laves, laveis, lavaige, Sc. lawage, lavash, 6– lavish. [f. LAVISH sb.]
1. a. With reference to speech: Unrestrained, effusive; esp. in phrase lavish of (one’s) tongue. Now only as contextual use of 2.
1485. Eliz. C’tess Surrey, in Paston Lett., No. 886, III. 323. They have not ben of that disposicion to be lavas of theyr tungys, whan they had moore cause of booldnes than they have nowe.
1529. More, Dyaloge, IV. Wks. 245/1. [Though many confessors are] in al other thing so light and laues of theyr tong … yet finde we neuer … cause giuen of complaint, through … secretes vttred … by the confessoure.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 114. ‘Trow ȝe,’ he said, ‘for ȝour speiking so proude, Or lichtlie langage bayth lawage and loude,… That I dar nocht to my purpois proceid.’
1594. 1st Pt. Contention, I. i. 25. Th’ excessiue loue I beare vnto your Grace, Forbids me to be lauish of my tongue.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, 415. How do old men even dote into lavish discourses of the beginning of their lives.
1701. Rowe, Ambit. Step-Moth., II. ii. 761. I bore his lavish Tongue.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 284. But why on Time so lavish is my song?
1807. Crabbe, Birth of Flattery, 264. The lavish tongue shall honest truths impart.
† b. Of conduct or disposition: Unrestrained, impetuous; loose, wild, licentious. Obs.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. iv. 64. When Meanes and lauish Manners meete together. Ibid. (1605), Macb., I. ii. 57. Curbing his lauish spirit.
1634. Milton, Comus, 465. When lust … by leud and lavish act of sin, Lets in defilement to the inward parts.
1640. Quarles, Enchirid., III. 28. If he be given to lavish Company, endeavour to stave him off with lawfull Recreations.
† c. Extravagant or ‘wild’ in speculation. Obs.
1693. J. Edwards, Author. O. & N. Test., 252. If … I have shewed my self arbitrary and lavish in some of the derivations.
2. a. Expending or bestowing without stint or measure; unboundedly liberal or profuse; prodigal. Const. of, in. In early use often: Wasteful, extravagant.
c. 1475. Cath. Angl., 210 (Add. MS.). Lavage, prodigus.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 54. He is so laueis, the stocke beginneth to droope.
1548–67. Thomas, Ital. Dict., Discipatrici, lauage woman, they that will spend out of reason.
1553. Grimalde, Cicero’s Offices, I. (1558), 21. Lauisher than their goods wil beare.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., 180. The lauas earth doth yeeld you plenteously Most gentle foode, &c.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 240. Lest you be carefull in keeping … or to prodigall and lavash in wasting them.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 39. Had I so lauish of my presence beene, So common hackney’d in the eyes of men.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxv. § 20. The liberall harted man is … by the iudgement of the miserable lauish.
1605. Play Stucley, in Simpson, Sch. Shaks. (1878), I. 262. I ever fear’d that my courageous brother … would be too lavish of his person.
1643. Burroughes, Exp. Hosea, II. vii. (1652), 276. You often tell your lavish wasting servants, they will be glad of a crust before they dye.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., VII. 76. Lavish Nature laughs, and strows her Stores around.
1710. Hearne, Collect. (O. H. S.), III. 51. When we are so lavish of our Money upon Trifles.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Elegies, i. 17. The mourner, lavish of his tears.
1791. Boswell, Johnson (1816), IV. 482. I have not been lavish of useless letters.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., I. 113. His bounty was lavish and open-handed.
1849. Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, iv. § 3. 97. In this respect Nature is sparing of her highest, and lavish of her less, beauty.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. iv. 152. The people thus formed … were … the most lavish in gifts to holy places.
b. Expended, bestowed or produced in unstinted profusion; profuse, abundant.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 220. He writeth to Dionysius … and alies, to leave off their lavash cheare and delicates.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., II. ii. 24. Let her haue needfull but not lauish meanes.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 423. The low’ring Spring, with lavish Rain, Beats down the slender Stem and bearded Grain.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Young, Wks. IV. 277. His three Plays all concluded with lavish suicide.
1832. Tennyson, Eleänore, 12. Thou wert nursed in some delicious land Of lavish lights, and floating shades.
1848. W. H. Kelly, trans. L. Blanc’s Hist. Ten Y., II. 446. He … received him at Neuilly with lavish marks of regard.
1883–4. O’Donovan, Story Merv, ii. 26. He wore a silk tunic … with lavish gold embroidery.
3. dial. Of grass or wheat: Rank, overgrown.
c. 1730. Poynter, MS. Gloss., in N. & Q., Ser. VI. VIII. 45. Lavage, rank.
1842. Pulman, Sketches (1871), 111. The grass is too lavidge.
1844. Barnes, Poems Rural Life, Gloss., Lavish, rank. ‘That wheat is lavish.’
