Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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.

Lik, v. 1 Also: like, lyk(e, lick. P.t. and p.p. lik(k)it, etc., lyked, lik't, lickt. [ME. like(n, licke(n, likke, lykke, like, OE. liccian.]

1. tr. To lick; also, to lap (a liquid).Also, to lick one's mouth (= lips) in anticipation of something good to eat.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 1388.
A lyone … Hyre haly fet fast likande Ib. xlv. 261.
The serpentis hire fete can lyke [: wyk adj.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 396.
Thou sall lik thy lippis and suere thou leis 1513 Doug. v. ii. 99.
[The adder] Crepis amang the … cowpis all … , The drynk and eyk the offerandis … Snokis and lykkyt 1533 Bell. Livy I. 18/13.
[The wolf] nocht alanerly gevand thame souke with hir pappis bot als likkand thame with hir toung a1568 Jok & Jynny 55.
I haif … Twa lusty lippis to lik ane laiddill a1585 Polwart Flyt. 564 (T).
The loun man lik his womeit and deny His schameles sawis 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xix.
The gorgoull and the graip … Quho usis oft to like and laip The blud of bodies deid a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1078.
Litle luk for the hyre women to get quhair the gudewife liks the ladill Ib. No. 1859.
Ye likit nevir your lips sen ye leid ?a1648 Polemo-Mid. 74.
Hunc qui gruelias scivit bene lickere plettas(2) a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) No. 911.
Ye breed of the millers dog, ye lick your mouth or the pok be open

b. Put for: To cause to be licked. a1605 Montg. Flyt. 509 (T).
Thair taillis with the tounge of it they lyk and ruther

c. To remove by licking (something furth of or off anything). 1567 G. Ball. 40.
The doggis … Lickand the fylth furth of his laithlie flesche a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) No. 501.
It is dear bought honey that is lickt off a thorne

d. Const. partitive: To take a taste of something (or out of a container), to taste or drink of it. c1420 Wynt. viii. 4503.
Thai off dew wald lyk, Quhar thai fand it owcht fallyn thyke 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 139.
Sum langis for the leffyr ill to lyk of a quart 1558-66 Knox I. 264.
The Lord James … lyked of the same bust that dispatched the rest, for thareof to this day his stomack doeth testifie

e. absol. 1584 Sat. P. xlv. 1091.
Beleiving it had bene blood … While ane pat doun his hand and lickit [: stickit] a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 983.
Lick quhair thow layed a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1073.
Loved he not muttoun weill, that likit quhair the yow lay Ib. No. 1715.
Ye are like the millers dogge that likkit or the poke was open 1639 Fugitive Poetry II. xiv. 2/29.
The infernall hounds both lik't and youl'd

2. tr. a. To lick or lap up; transf. b. To ? scoop, snatch or ? gobble up. c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 104.
And all the day quhare euer scho go, Sic liquour scho likkith vp also [sc. dust with her train] 15.. Wyf Awcht. 52.
By thair cumis the gredy gled, And likkit vp fyve [goslings]

3. Of flames, wind: To lick, play upon, ‘caress’. 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 133.
Vpspring the blesis … Quhilk semyt forto lik the starnys hie 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xvii.
The fudder fell so thick Doun dryuing and ryuing The leiues that thay did lick

4. ? To cut off.But ? error for hakkit. 1535 Stewart 4800.
Leggis war likkit of hardof at the kne

5. Comb., in terms of abuse: One who licks or tastes (something contemptible).Lick the widdie, one who tastes or experiences the withy, a gallows-bird. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 243.
Chittirlilling, ruch rilling, lik schilling in the milhouse a1585 Polwart Flyt. 774 (T).
Lik laidill, husche paidill Ib. 830.
Lik butter, throt cutter, fisch gutter — a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1638.
Ye ar a lick the widdie or pin