Chapter Lady of the Haystack to Lambert's Day of L by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Lagoon A shallow lake near river or sea, due to infiltration or overflow of water from the larger body.

Laïs A courtesan or Greek Hetaira. There were two of the name; the elder was the most beautiful woman of Corinth, and lived at the time of the Peloponnesian War. The beauty of the latter excited the jealousy of the Thessalonian women, who pricked her to death with their bodkins. She was contemporary with Phryne (2 syl.), her rival, and sat to Apelles as a model.

Laissez Faire, Laissez Passer Lord John Russell said: “Colbert, with the intention of fostering the manufactures of France, established regulations limiting the webs woven in looms to a particular size. He also prohibited the introduction of foreign manufactures. Then the French vine-growers, finding they could no longer get rid of their wine, began to grumble. When Colbert asked a merchant what relief he could give, he received for answer, `Laissez faire, laissez passer;' that is to say, Don't interfere with our mode of manufactures, and don't stop the introduction of foreign imports.”
   The laissez-faire system. The let-alone system.

Lake School (The). The school of poetry introduced by the Lake poets Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Southey, who resided in the Lake district of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and sought inspiration in the simplicity of nature. The name was first applied in derision by the Edinburgh Review to the class of poets who followed the above-named trio.
   N.B. Charles Lamb, Lloyd, and Professor William (Christopher North) are sometimes placed among the “Lakers.”

Lakedion or Laquedem (Isaac). The name given in France, in the fourteenth century, to the Wandering Jew.

Lakin By'r Lakin. An oath, meaning “By our Lady-kin,” or Little Lady, where little does not refer to size, but is equivalent to dear.

“By'r Lakin, a parlous [perilous] fear.”- Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream, iii. 1.

Laksmi or Lakshmi. One of the consorts of Vishnu; she is goddess of beauty, wealth, and pleasure. (Hindu mythology.)

Lalla Rookh [tulip cheek ] is the supposed daughter of Au-rung-ze'-be, Emperor of Delhi, betrothed to Aliris, Sultan of Lesser Bucharia. On her journey from Delhi to the valley of Cashmere, she is entertained by a young Persian poet named Feramorz, who is supposed to relate the four poetical tales of the romance, and with whom she falls in love. (Thomas Moore: Lalla Rookh.) (See Feramorz .)

Lama among the Mongols, means the priestly order. Hence the religion of the Mongols and Calmucs is termed Lamaism. The Grand Lamas wear yellow caps, the subordinate Lamas red caps. (See Grandlama .)

Lamaism [Tibetan, Blama, spiritual teacher]. The religion of Tibet and Mongolia, which is Buddhism corrupted by Sivaism and spirit-worship.

Lamb In Christian art, an emblem of the Redeemer, called the “Lamb of God". It is also the attribute of St. Agnes, St. Geneviève, St. Catherine, and St. Regina. John the Baptist either carries a lamb or is accompanied by one. It is also introduced symbolically to represent any of the “types” of Christ; as Abraham, Moses, and so on.

Lamb ( The Vegetable) or Tartarian lamb; technically called Polypodium Barometz. It is a Chinese fern with a decumbent root, covered with a soft, dense yellow wool. Sir Hans Sloane, who calls it the Tartarian lamb, has given a print of it; and Dr. Hunter has given a print which makes its resemblance to a lamb still more striking. The down is used in India for staunching hæmorrhage.

“Rooted in earth each cloven hoof descends,
And round and round her flexile neck she bends;
Crops the grey coral moss, and hoary thyme,
Or laps with rosy tongue the melting rime;
Eyes with mute tenderness her distant dam,
And seems to bleat, a Vegetable Lamb.”
Darwin: Loves of the Plants, 283, etc.

Lamb