supposed scottish drinking cheer

[maxximus]

long may your lum rique

[Pressgang1]

It is a Scottish toast: "Lang may yer lum reek!" meaning " Long may your chimney smoke", ie may you prosper.

[maxximus]

i've mispelled reek, i'd only heard it never seen it spelled, the spelling i had i've always thought to be a bad smell, made no sense, thanx for clearing that up. i understand lum like flue, still not sure the connection between reek and smoke?

[Quizmonster]

'Reek' has meant 'smoke' for a lot longer than it has meant 'bad smell'. It took on the second meaning only as a result of the idea that a rising vapour - such as smoke - might easily have a bad smell if it comes from something burning or rotting.

[nickmo]

Edinburgh was named 'auld reekie' due to the smoke from all the houses crammed into a small area. Plus the habit of chucking waste out onto the street didn't help in the past, if you want to add the smell connection too..

[heathfield]

The expression "Lang may yer lum reek" is often followed by "With other folks' coal" ! ;-)

[maxximus]

got it!! especially like the other folks coal part. thank you all

[Grunty]

Owners of veteran cars should not confuse this expression with the Langmeir Lumrique carburettor.

[maxximus]

is that a joke or is that the actual name of the carburator. if s maybe you can explain a little more i'm curios?