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.
Lisk, n. Also: leisk, leask. [The Sc. forms corresp. to north. and east midl. ME. lesske (Orm), leske, e.m.E. and mod. midl. Eng. dial. lesk, also late ME. and mod. Eng. lask(e. In the mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial. as lisk, leesk.The phonological relationships and the exact source are not clear: cf. OE. lesca groin, OSw., ODa. liuske (Icel. ljóski, Da. lyske), LG. leeske, EFris. lêske.]
The groin, or the loin or flank (of a person).(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 121 (B).
Lene larbar, loungeour, baith lowsy in lisk and lonȝe 1594 Reg. Privy C. V. 194.
[He] shoit three or foure schoitis of pistolletis at him, and … woundit him … in the lisk c1615 Chron. Kings 157. 1603 Crim. Trials II. 417.
Be the straik of ane sword in the lisk and the wambe 1621 Ib. III. 498.
Setting thair feit betuix his leggis vpone his ball-cod and forceing thairby his stanes to loup vp in his liskis 1629 Kirkcudbright B. Rec. II. 392.
The stryking of Helein Henderson with … his feit vpon the lisk 1632 Justic. Cases I. 203. 1646 J. Hope Diary (1958) 194.
With paine in his right liske(b) 1513 Doug. x. x. 103.
The grondyn hed … At hys left flank or leisk [R. lisk] persyt tyte 1601 Crim. Trials II. 363.
[They] first straik him with ane fork in at the leask
