Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Likame, Lic(h)ame, n. Also: licaym, lykame, lycome. [ME. licham (Gen. & Exodus), licam (Cursor M.), lycam, lykame, etc., early licome, licama, OE. íichama, -homa, ON. líkame, líkam-r: see Lyke n. In ME. latterly west midl. and north. in verse (chiefly alliterative), and not found after the 15th c. In Sc. only (with Lekame q.v.) in 14–15th c. (allit. and non-allit.) verse.] One's body; also, one's dead body, corpse.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 676.
That don, [she] helyt hir lycame c1450-2 Howlat 900.
The Howlat … lukit to his lykame [B. licame] that lemyt so licht a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 294.
Sall never my likame be laid vnlaissit to sleip Quhill I have gart yone berne bow a1500 Henr. III. 98/61.
Vnlusum was his likame dicht, His sark was all bludy Ib. 115/31.
Luk thow my laythly lycome gyf I le c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 999.
Throw his eent weid men saw his fair lykane [sic, rh. with name](2) c1475 Wall. vii. 281.
With a claith I couerit his licaym [1570, lichame]