* lisp/startup.el (command-line-1): Allow `-L :...' to append to load-path.

* doc/emacs/cmdargs.texi (Action Arguments): Mention that `-L :...' appends.

* etc/NEWS: Mention this.

doc/emacs/ChangeLog

+2013-11-04  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
+
+	* cmdargs.texi (Action Arguments): Mention that `-L :...' appends.
+
 2013-11-02  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
 
 	* cmdargs.texi (Action Arguments): Clarify `-L' a bit.

doc/emacs/cmdargs.texi

@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ Prepend directory @var{dir} to the variable @code{load-path}.
 If you specify multiple @samp{-L} options, Emacs preserves the
 relative order; i.e., using @samp{-L /foo -L /bar} results in
 a @code{load-path} of the form @code{("/foo" "/bar" @dots{})}.
+If @var{dir} begins with @samp{:}, Emacs removes the @samp{:} and
+appends (rather than prepends) the remainder to @code{load-path}.
 
 @item -f @var{function}
 @opindex -f

etc/NEWS

@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ To use the old backend by default, do on the command line:
 
 * Startup Changes in Emacs 24.4
 
++++
+** The -L option, which normally prepends its argument to load-path,
+will instead append, if the argument begins with `:'.
+
 
 * Changes in Emacs 24.4
 

lisp/ChangeLog

+2013-11-04  Glenn Morris  <rgm@gnu.org>
+
+	* startup.el (command-line-1): Allow `-L :...' to append to load-path.
+
 2013-11-03  Stefan Monnier  <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
 
 	* progmodes/ruby-mode.el (ruby-smie--rule-parent-skip-assign): Remove.

lisp/startup.el

@@ -2171,13 +2171,22 @@ A fancy display is used on graphic displays, normal otherwise."
 		   (eval (read (or argval (pop command-line-args-left)))))
 
 		  ((member argi '("-L" "-directory"))
-		   (setq tem (expand-file-name
-			      (command-line-normalize-file-name
-			       (or argval (pop command-line-args-left)))))
-		   (cond (splice (setcdr splice (cons tem (cdr splice)))
-				 (setq splice (cdr splice)))
-			 (t (setq load-path (cons tem load-path)
-				  splice load-path))))
+		   ;; -L :/foo adds /foo to the _end_ of load-path.
+		   (let (append)
+		     (if (string-match-p
+			  "\\`:"
+			  (setq tem (or argval (pop command-line-args-left))))
+			 (setq tem (substring tem 1)
+			       append t))
+		     (setq tem (expand-file-name
+				(command-line-normalize-file-name tem)))
+		     (cond (append (setq load-path
+					 (append load-path (list tem)))
+				   (if splice (setq splice load-path)))
+			   (splice (setcdr splice (cons tem (cdr splice)))
+				   (setq splice (cdr splice)))
+			   (t (setq load-path (cons tem load-path)
+				    splice load-path)))))
 
 		  ((member argi '("-l" "-load"))
 		   (let* ((file (command-line-normalize-file-name