Brewer's: Lazy

Lazy as David Lawrence's dog. Here Lawrence is a corruption of Larrence, an imaginary being supposed by Scottish peasantry to preside over the lazy and indolent. Laziness is called “Larrence.” (See and compare Davy Jones.)

Lazy as Joe,
the marine, who laid down has musket to sneeze. (Sailor's proverb.)

Lazy as Ludlam's dog,
which leaned has head against the wall to bark.

This Ludlam was the famous sorceress of Surrey, who lived in a cave near Farnham, called “Ludlam's Cave.” She kept a dog, noted for its laziness, so that when the rustics came to consult the witch, it would hardly condescend to give notice of their approach, even with the ghost of a bark. (Ray: Proverbs.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Lazy Lawrence of Lubberland
Lazarus
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