lang may yer lum reek

UK/ˈlæŋ meɪ jə ˌlʌm ˈɹiːk/US/ˈlæŋ meɪ jɚ ˌlʌm ˈɹik/Scotland/ˈlaŋ meː jəɹ ˈlʌm ˈrik/

phrase

Used to wish someone well, especially as a drinking toast or a farewell.

OriginScots lang may yer →
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Meanings

phrase

alternative lang may your lum reek

  1. ScotlandUsed to wish someone well, especially as a drinking toast or a farewell.

    And as they say—lang may yer lum reek!

    1998, Alan Grant, Batman: Scottish Connection, London: Titan Books, →ISBN, page 47
    5 more examples

    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.

    1895 March–April, Andrew Craighead, “‘Lang May Your Lum Reek’”, in The British Printer, volume VIII, number 44, London: Raithby, Lawrence & Co. […], →OCLC, page 117

    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.

    1896, Joseph Parker, “Note XXIX. [Concerning ‘Bits’.]”, in Might Have Been: Some Life Notes, New York, N.Y.: Frederick A[bbott] Stokes Company, →OCLC, page 187

    Lang may your lum reek and your kalipot boil!

    1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 14: Oxen of the Sun]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 404

    'And lang may yer lum reek on other folk's coal,' Jock reciprocated.

    2005, Peter Kerr, From Paella to Porridge: A Farewell to Mallorca and a Scottish Adventure, Chichester, West Sussex: Summersdale Publishers, →ISBN

    In the event I don't see you again before you leave Glory—well, you know, cheerio, cheery-bye and lang may yer lum reek!

    2008, Ron Benrey, Janet Benrey, chapter 14, in Season of Glory (Love Inspired Suspense), New York, N.Y.: Steeple Hill Books, →ISBN, page 155

Origin

  1. Scotslang may yer
  2. Englishlang may yer lum reek

PIE word *dlongʰos Borrowed from Scots lang may yer (or your) lum reek (expression of good wishes for one’s prosperity, literally “long may your chimney smoke”): from lang (“long”), lum (“chimney”), and reek (“of a chimney: to emit smoke”).

More words from Scots

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with lang may yer lum reek

weekuniquecreekspeakpeakgreekseektechniqueweakgeekboutiquecritiqueobliquechicstreaksleekcheekpeekteaktweakmalikbleakphysiqueSikh
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

lang may yer lum reek. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lang%20may%20yer%20lum%20reek

MLA

“lang may yer lum reek.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lang%20may%20yer%20lum%20reek. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lang may yer lum reek,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lang%20may%20yer%20lum%20reek.

Source: lang may yer lum reek on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.