Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 2–3 leð, leoð, lioþ, 3–4 leþe, 3–5 leth, (? 3–4 lyth, 5 letht), 7 lathe, 7– leath. [Early ME. leð, of obscure origin; not connected with LITHE a. Usually regarded as equivalent to the sb. from which are derived Ger. and Du. ledig unoccupied, also (with negative prefix) MDu. onlede trouble. Cf. also LETHE a.]
1. Cessation, intermission, rest. † A leoð gān (early ME.): to make peace.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 35. Swilche pine ic habbe þet me were leofere þenne al world … most ic habben an alpi þraȝe summe lisse and summe leðe.
c. 1205. Lay., 9504. Ȝif he wule a leoð gan [c. 1275 pais makie] & halden me for lauerd.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3348. Wið ðis mete weren he fed, fowerti winter vten leð.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23260. Of helle pines … firen bandes es þe nind, þat al þair limes ar bunden wit, witvten leth of ani lith.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4593. Þa þat lepros ere & lame, þat neuire of leth knewe.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxi. 142. Oone worde myght thou speke ethe, yit myght it do the som letht.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 29. Lathe, ease or rest. Ibid., Leath, ceasing, intermission: as no Leath of pain.
2. Mining. A soft part in a vein.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., Blanch, a piece of Ore grown in the hard Rock, or in hard Sparr or Tuft, or any other hard Stuff, without any Softness or Leath at all about it. Ibid., Leath. In hard Works it is any Joynt, or softness that gives some Liberty and Advantage, for the better freeing the harder Part, in order to Cut or Blast it.
