a lake in E central Scotland: one of the shallowest of Scottish lochs, with seven islands, on one of which Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned (1567--8). Length: 6 km (3.7 miles). Width: 4 km (2.5 miles)
2.
a sea loch in W Scotland, extending for about 14 km (9 miles) east from Loch Linnhe
mid-14c., from O.Fr. levain (12c.), from L. levamen "alleviation, mitigation," but used in V.L. in its literal sense of "a means of lifting, something that raises," from levare "to raise" (see lever). The verb is attested from early 15c.