h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Without wanting to be pedantic the entry for the word 'La', it reads it means friend or mate. It actually is a contraction of the word Lad and/or Lass, common in the broader Lancastrain dialect. Thus Lad is rendered La' as well as Lass also becoming La'. This was discussed by the in crowd at Kirklands in the late 80s, who frequented gigs by Mavers et al., and was as a direct result of the discussion of the validity of calling female friends, La'.