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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lyke, n. Also: lik, lyk, lyik. Plur. likis, lykis, lyk(ki)s. [North. and north midl. ME. like (Cursor M.), body, corpse, midl. and south. ME. and e.m.E. lich(e, lych(e, e.m.E. also lytche-, OE. Líc, ON. Lík: for an early compound, see Likame n. Sense 2 below is Sc. only.]

1. A body. a. The living body. In the allit. phr. lufly … in lyke.Cf. ME. hire leofliche lich (Juliana), lene … of lich (Piers Plowm.), etc. — a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 858.
Thai lufly ledis in lyke, thai layid on in ane ling

b. An (unburied) dead body, a corpse. c1475 Wall. ii. 332.
Quha aw this lik he bad hir nocht deny

2. a. plur. Funeral rites, obsequies. Only in Boece in funerall, dedelie likis. 1533 Boece v. i. 164.
The ymage of Gald … ourefrett with garlandis as was than the custume at funerall likis Ib. viii. v. 258 b.
Coustantine … spendit the remanent nycht at the kingis chalmer according to funeral likis of princis Ib. ix. xi. 313 b.
Eftir the dedelie lykis of the King war endit

b. In the north-east: = Lykewake n. 2.Also in the mod. north-eastern dial. 1584 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 53.
For evading … of the contaguis pest … that na conventiounn of peopill nor lykis be sufferit to convene at the deceis of ony deid persoun 1606 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 53.
The sessioun considdering the gryt … abuses quhilk fallis out at the lykis of defunct persones … dischargis all keping of lykis in tyme cumming, except allanerlie that it shal be lesum to fyve or sex … of the speciall freyndis of the defunct to be present at the lyk walk 1620 Elgin Rec. II. 165.
Lykkis 1631 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 35.
Lyik 1658 Ib. IV. 173.
Lyks 1659 Boharm Par. Mag. (March 1892).
Alex^r Hay [etc.] … confessed that they did goe to Mulben to ane lyke c 1666 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 686/1.
[A fee to the Master of Aberdeen Music School] for singing at umquhill Sir Robert Farquhar of Mouny his lyk

c. Attrib. with -song (? = one sung or as sung at a lyke-wake). 1640 Inverness Presb. 121.
Discharging stricklie all … sports, lyksongs, fidling, and dancing [at lyke-wakes]