> as lemmas

A Christian name, used to denote a personification of indolence. Laurence bids wages: a proverbial phrase meaning that the attractions of idleness are tempting. Also Lazy Laurence, a reproachful designation for an idle person. Possibly the alliteration of the last-quoted phrase may sufficiently account for the use of the name; some, however, have suggested an allusion to the heat prevalent about St. Laurence's day (August 10). Another conjecture is that there was a joke to the effect that when the martyr St. Laurence told his tormentors to turn him round on his gridiron, it was because he was too lazy to turn himself. It is important to note that the equivalent German der faule Lenz (Lenz = Lorenz) has been in use from the 16th cent.; see Grimm s.v. Lenz.