leeftail, a. dial.
Forms: 7 leftal, 8 lieftel, leave-, 9 leef-, leevetail.
[? repr. OE. léoftǽle high in favour, desirable, f. léof lief, dear + -tǽle, f. root of tellan to count, tell.]
Much in demand; having a quick sale.
| 1674 Ray N.C. Words Collect. 30 Lestal [read leftal]; saleable, that weighs well in the hand, that is heavy in lifting, from the Verb Lift, as I suppose. 1781 Hutton Tour to Caves 92 Leavetail, being a great want of, or demand for. 1790 Ann Wheeler Dial. 58 En wur a varra lieftel Market. 1847 Halliwell, Leeftail, quick sale. Cumb. 1869 Lonsdale Gloss., Leef-tail, Leevetail, much in demand. |