Borrowed fromScotslang may yer(or your) lum reek(expression of good wishes for one’s prosperity, literally“long may your chimney smoke”):[1] fromlang(“long”),[2]lum(“chimney”),[3] andreek(“of a chimney: to emit smoke”).[4]
langmayyerlumreek
- (Scotland)Used towish someone well, especially as adrinkingtoast or afarewell.
1895 March–April, Andrew Craighead, “‘Lang May Your Lum Reek’”, inThe British Printer, volume VIII, number44, London: Raithby, Lawrence & Co. […],→OCLC,page117:The B[ritish] P[rinter] is much appreciated in our office. It is regarded as indispensable, and is beyond doubt the best Trade Journal.Lang may your lum reek.
1896,Joseph Parker, “Note XXIX.[Concerning ‘Bits’.]”, inMight Have Been: Some Life Notes, New York, N.Y.:Frederick A[bbott] Stokes Company,→OCLC,page187:If he will only see that Protestantism is protected, my daily prayer shall be, "Lang may your lum reek," a prayer which warms and gladdens every Scottish heart.
2005,Peter Kerr,From Paella to Porridge: A Farewell to Mallorca and a Scottish Adventure, Chichester, West Sussex:Summersdale Publishers,→ISBN:'Andlang may yer lum reek on other folk's coal,' Jock reciprocated.
2008, Ron Benrey, Janet Benrey, chapter 14, inSeason of Glory (Love Inspired Suspense), New York, N.Y.: Steeple Hill Books,→ISBN,page155:In the event I don't see you again before you leave Glory—well, you know,cheerio,cheery-bye andlang may yer lum reek!
2012 May 2, Will Riding, chapter 9, inFlight of the Yellow Bowler, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire:AuthorHouse,→ISBN,page126:‘Lang may your lum reek,’ called Fingal as his guest drifted out of sight.[…] ‘Lang may your lum what?’ Ben murmured to himself. Just catching the question, Alec whispered – ‘reek.Lang may your lum reek. Long may your chimney smoke. That’s what. Long may you live, you see.’
2015, Leah Marie Brown,Finding It (An It Girl Novel), New York, N.Y.: Lyrical Press,Kensington Publishing Corp.,→ISBN:"A'll see y Monday next, then," Grinning Hottie says, giving Angus one of those Macho Man half hugs with the bruising back slap. "Lang may yer lum reek." Angus laughs, slaps Grinning Hottie on the back, and repeats the salutation. He says it so fast, though, that it almost sounds like, "Long may your bum reek."
This phrase was originally a traditional ScotsHogmanay toast, but has passed into general English usage in Scotland.
- ^“lang may your lum reek” under“reek,n.1,v.”, inThe Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh:Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present,→OCLC, reproduced from W[illiam] Grant and D[avid] D. Murison, editors,The Scottish National Dictionary, Edinburgh:Scottish National Dictionary Association, 1931–1976,→OCLC.
- ^“lang, ''adj.,adv.,n.,v.”, inThe Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh:Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present,→OCLC, reproduced from W[illiam] Grant and D[avid] D. Murison, editors,The Scottish National Dictionary, Edinburgh:Scottish National Dictionary Association, 1931–1976,→OCLC.
- ^“lum,n.1,v.1”, inThe Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh:Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present,→OCLC, reproduced from W[illiam] Grant and D[avid] D. Murison, editors,The Scottish National Dictionary, Edinburgh:Scottish National Dictionary Association, 1931–1976,→OCLC.
- ^“reek,n.1,v.”, inThe Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh:Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present,→OCLC, reproduced from W[illiam] Grant and D[avid] D. Murison, editors,The Scottish National Dictionary, Edinburgh:Scottish National Dictionary Association, 1931–1976,→OCLC.
