Chapter Lover's Leap to Lucifera of L by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Lowlanders of Attica were the gentry, so called because they lived on the plains. (Pedieis.)

Lowndean Professor (Cambridge University). A professor of astronomy (and geometry); the chair founded by Thomas Lowndes, Esq., in 1749.

Loy A long, narrow spade used in cultivating stony lands.

Loyal Only one regiment of all the British army is so called, and that is the “Loyal North Lancashire,” in two battalions, No. 47 and No. 81. It was so called in 1793, and probably had some allusion to the French revolutionists.

Loys [lo-is ]. So Louis was written in French till the time of Louis XIII.

Luath (2 syl.). Cuthullin's dog in Ossian's Fingal; also the name of the poor man's dog representing the peasantry in The Twa Dogs, by Robert Burns. The gentleman's dog is called Caesar. Also Fingal's dog. (See Dog.)

Lubber (A). A dolt. Seamen call an awkward sailor a land-lubber. A variant of “looby” (Welsh, llob, with a diminutive, “somewhat of a dunce or dolt.”)

Lubber's Hole A lazy cowardly way of doing what is appointed, or of evading duty. A seaman's expression. Sailors call the vacant space between the head of a lower-mast and the edge of the top, the lubber's hole, because timid boys get through this space to the top, to avoid the danger and difficulties of the “futtock shrouds.”

Lubberkin or Lubrican. (Irish, Lobaircin or Leprechaun.) A fairy resembling an old man, by profession a maker of brogues, who resorts to out-of-the-way places, where he is discovered by the noise of his hammer. He is rich, and while anyone keeps his eye fixed upon him cannot escape, but the moment the eye is withdrawn he vanishes.

Lubins A species of goblins in Normandy that take the form of wolves, and frequent churchyards. They are very timorous, and take flight at the slightest noise.
   “Il a peur de lubins ” (Afraid of ghosts). Said of a chicken-hearted person.

Lucasian Professor A professor of mathematics in the University of Cambridge. This professorship was founded in 1663 by Henry Lucas, Esq, M.P. for the University.

Lucasta to whom Richard Lovelace sang, was Lucy Sacheverell, called by him lux casta, i.e. Chaste Lucy.

Luce Flower de Luce. A corruption of fleur-de-lis (q.v.), more anciently written “floure delices, ” a corruption of fiordilisa, the white iris. The French messenger says to the Regent Bedford-

“Cropped are the flower de luces in your arms;
Of England's coat one-half is cut away.”
Shakespeare: 1 Henry VI., i. 1.

referring of course to the loss of France.
    The luce or lucy is a full-grown pike. Thus Justice Shallow says- “The luce is the fresh fish, the salt fish is an old coat”- i.e. Lucy is a new name, the old one was Charlecote. (Merry Wives of Windsor, i. l.) (See Fleurs-De-Lys.)

Luce the full-grown pike, is the Latin luci-us, from the Greek lukos (a wolf), meaning the wolf of fishes.

Lucia Di Lammermoor Called Lucy Ashton by Sir Walter Scott, was the sister of Lord Henry Ashton of Lammermoor, who, to retrieve the fallen fortunes of the family, arranges a marriage between his sister and Lord Arthur Bucklaw (or Frank Hayston, laird of Bucklaw). Unknown to Henry Ashton, Edgardo (or Edgar), master of Ravens-wood), whose family has long been in a state of hostility with the Lammermoors, is in love with Lucy, and his attachment is reciprocated. While Edgar is absent in France on an embassy, Lucy is made to believe, by feigned letters, that Edgar is unfaithful to her, and in her frenzy of indignation