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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.

Lyk(e)wake, -walk, n. Also: lik-, lick-, like-, lyck-, lyik-, liak-, laik-, laick-, (laich-), lak(e)-, leik-, leakand -vak(e, -valk, -waik(e, -weak, -wak; lick-quake, laiqueak(e, lequack; and Lukwake. [ME. (once) lych-wake (Chaucer), north. e.m.E. lyke-waike (1558), and in the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dialect. More often written as one word than as two. Cf. also Late-wak.]The variant laikwaik, lakewake, sense 2 a (c), appears to be mainly south-eastern.

1. plur. = Lyke n. 2 a. 1513 Doug. x. ix. 31.
[Eight] ȝong men … Quham that he etlys forto send from thens To Pallas lykewalkis [R. like-] and obsequeis

2. The watch kept at night over the body of a newly deceased person.Also, the (often large and riotous) gathering on such an occasion.Common only in the 17th c.a. (a) 1596 Dalr. II. 450/24.
The Quene of Scotland, now a widow, her lyk wake quhen scho had maid, scho passis to the toune of Rhemse 1603 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 6 Sept.
Gif ony persoun des … discharges that ony lykwake … salbe usit [in time of plague] 1613 S. Leith Rec. .
Jannet Porteous, … found to have committed insolence at ane lykwaik on the sabothe day 1637 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXX. 145.
For the wholl chargis of his buriall and liakwaik, the particular compt £86 a1658 Durham Commandments 236.
There is your drinking at like-wakes or dergies (as ye call them) after the death, and also after the burial of friends or neighbours 1659 Cramond Ch. Alves 36.
Lyckwake 1663 Craven Caithn. Dioc. 137.
To staud in sackcloth for pypping at lykewakes 1663 Moray Synod 133.
Anent the censuring … that prophannes, dancing and unseemlie cariag ordinarlie found at lykwaks Ib.
That lykwakes he kept with as few of the deceased's friends and neighbours as may serve convenientlie to attende 1666 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 226.
The benefite of all lykwaks he [the schoolmaster] sall be imployit at within this burgh 1695 Melville Corr. 241.
My Lord Stairs is dead … , my father, brothers, and I wer at his likewake this evening(b) 1606 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 53 (see Lyke n. 2 b).
Lyk walk — 1623 Crim. Trials III. 549.
His sone … was slane, … at quhose lyke-walk that nycht the ox foirsaid, stowin be the fader and the sone, was slane and eittin 1629–30 Misc. Spald. C. V. 146.
For ane gallowne of Frensche wyne to the lyik walk of umquhill Alexr. Mackie, wricht 1633 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 54.
That the maister of musick school bring with him onlie four schollares to everie lyikwalk quhuerunto he is desyrit himselff c1650 Spalding II. 227.
Reiding of holie scriptures and singing of psalmes at lykualkis dischargeit be act of the toune's counsall(c) 1631 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 230.
Twa yong lasses … accusit for using ryot that nicht quhen Isbell Hudes laikwaik was 1645 Kelso Presb. in Berw. Nat. C. V. 333.
Laikwaikes 1645 Waddell Old Kirk Chron. 68.
Laiqueakis 1648 S. Leith Rec. 82.
That ther he no laich [sic in pr.] wakes at all in speciall now in tyme quhen the plague is beginning to breack out agane Ib.
Laickwakes 1651 Laing MSS. I. 255.
Lakwak 1684 Oliphants 289.
Payed for tobaco and pyps to the lequack 1697 Peebles B. Rec. II. 156.
The magistrats … discharge all persones quhatsumevir to frequent any lakewakes except upon particular invitationes from those concerned(d) 1604 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 3.
Proclamatioun … dischargeing all likvalkis 1675 Inverness Presb. 52.
Beeing enquired if he … did lay a restraint upon pypeing violeing and danceing at lickwaks 1697 Foulis Acc. Bk. 201.
Spent … after we came from Joⁿ Aitkins childs lick quake, 18 s.(e) 1638 Household Bk. M. Stewart 29.
For making a chest to Katharine Ramsay who deceast the night before, … for two half pounds tobako and 18 pypes to spend at her leikwake, … for four gallons … aill … to spend at her leikwake 1658 Dumfries Kirk S. MS. p. 199 (4 Mar.).
That they forbear to keip leakwakes [marg. Anent leakweaks] from henceforth

b. Some additional references:(a) 1613 S. Leith Rec. ; 1623–4 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 160; 1625 Elgin Rec. II. 190; 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 5; 1644 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 427; 1646 Glasg. B. Rec. II. 108; 1646 Elgin Rec. II. 255, 1683 Ib. I. 331; 1652 Thanes of Cawdor 310; 1658 Cramond Ch. Grange 26; c 1666 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 686/1; 1675 Inverness Presb. 52, 53, 55, etc.; 1685 Lauder Notices Aff. II. 664, 1696 Id. Decis. I. 711; 1687 Bk. O. Edinb. C. XXVII. 145; 1692 Old Ross-shire I. 152; 1693 Banff Ann. I. 97; 1698 Stirling B. Rec. II. 342.(b) 1615 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 370; 1620 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 369, 1635 Ib. III. 35, 1638 Ib. 123; 1630 Glasgow Trades House 146; 1631 Chron. Perth 96; 1648 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 116; Spalding II. 66, 156; 1703 Pittenweem Ann. 108.