• LIAR’S BENCH
n. 1975 Amer. dial. – the wooden seat on the front porch of the town’s general store, post office, etc.
• LIB
n. 1. 1470 Sc. – a charm, a magic potion
n. 2. 1970 sl. – a campaign for political or social enfranchisement; usually with a modifier identifying the group of people involved
vb. 1. 14C Eng. dial. – to castrate
vb. 2. L17 Brit. – to copulate
vb. 3. L17 cant – to sleep
vb. 4. 1700 Sc. – to mutilate, to curtail, to deprive
vb. 5. 1923 Sc. – to expose the privy parts forcibly (esp. of a boy)
• LIBBARD
n. a1300 – the leopard
• LIBBER
n. 1. 1825 Sc. – one who castrates; a gelder
n. 2. 1971 sl. – an advocate of liberation
• LIBBERT
n. 1821 Sc. – a eunuch; said of men or animals
• LIBBERTICKS
n. 1930 Sc. – shreds, tatters, rags
• LIBENCE
n. 1654 obs. rare – willingness
• LIBENTIOUSLY
adv. 1606 – willingly → obs.
• LIBERARIAN
n. 1767 Sc. – a librarian
• LIBERATE
vb. 1944 euphemism or jocular usage – to loot or steal
• LIBERTICIDE
n. 1. 1785 – destruction of liberty
n. 2. 1792 – a person who destroys liberty
• LIBERTINE
adj. 1. 1560 – free from moral, esp. sexual, restraint; dissolute; licentious
adj. 2. 1593 – unrestrained, uncontrolled
n. 1. 1584 – a dissolute person; a profligate
n. 2. 1757 Sc. obs. – in King’s College, Aberdeen: a student who had no bursary or scholarship
• LIBERTY CABBAGE
n. World War I Amer. sl. – sauerkraut
• LIBERTY-FISH
n. 1960 Sc. – a fisherman’s name for salmon
• LIBERTY HALL
n. 1773 – a place where one may do as one likes
• LIBERTY HOG
n. 1992 Amer. sl. – a sailor or marine who is eager to go on shore leave
• LIBERTY HOUND
n. 1939 Amer. sl. – a sailor or marine who is eager to go on shore leave
• LIBERTY MEASLES
n. World War I Amer. sl. – German measles
• LIB-FOR-SPOKEN
n. 1921 Sc. – a potion against the evil eye
• LIBIDINOUS
adj. 1447 – full of sexual lust, lustful, lewd, lascivious
• LIB-LAB
vb. 1922 Sc. – of running water: to lap, to gurgle, to make a rippling sound
• LIBRARIOUS
adj. 1656 – having to do with books, pert. to a library
• LIBRARY
n. 1. 1907 Amer. dial. – a book borrowed from a library
n. 2. 1931-33 Amer. euphemism – any privy or W.C. in reference to the reading one might do while seated there
• LIBSTER
n. 1825 Sc. – a castrator
• LICIOUS
adj. c1420 obs. rare – delicious, tasty, savoury
• LICK
n. 1. 1699 Sc. – a small amount; a bit; the smallest amount of something
n. 2. 1724 Sc. – a wag, a scamp
n. 3. 1746 Sc. – a sharp blow or stroke, as with a fist, a weapon, or a tool
n. 4. 1809 – a brief or brisk stroke of activity or energy; a burst of speed
n. 5. 1868 US sl. – a work period
n. 6. 1893 Amer. dial. – syrup, molasses
n. 7. 1945 Amer. dial. – a spring or stream
n. 8. 1970s sl., orig. US – a toady, a sycophant
n. 9. 20C colloq. – a quick pace or clip; speed
vb. 1. 1785 – to strike, to hit, to beat, esp. as a punishment; to thrash, to whip
vb. 2. 1826 Sc. – to take a pinch or small amount of something, esp. of snuff
vb. 3. 1856 Sc. – to hasten, to hurry, to go fast
vb. 4. 20C colloq. – to outdo, to surpass
vb. 5. 20C colloq. – to overcome, to defeat, as in a fight, game, or contest
• LICK A BOX
vb. 1990s sl., orig. W. Indies & Trinidad – to perform cunnilingus
• LICK ABOUT
vb. 20C W. Indies sl. – to live an unsettled life
• LICK AND A PROMISE
n. 1. M19 sl. – a quick, if not well-performed, piece of work; orig. said of a hasty wash
n. 2. Bk1913 Amer. dial. – scant care or attention
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a small amount; a bit
n. 4. 20C – a hasty and perfunctory performance in doing something
• LICK AND A SMELL
n. M18 sl. – a very small portion
• LICK AND SHINE
n. 2000s sl. – of a man: the act of smoking crack cocaine while a prostitute performs fellatio on him
• LICK AN’ PRAN
vb. 1950s W. Indies sl. – to tidy up
• LICK AROUND
vb. 20C W. Indies sl. – to live an unsettled life
• LICK-ARSE
n. 1970s sl., orig. US – a toady, a sycophant
• LICK A THIVEL
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to suffer poverty, to verge on starvation
• LICK BACK
vb. 1888 Amer. dial. – to turn suddenly, to dart back
• LICK-BIRSE
n. 1817 Sc. – a cobbler
• LICK-BOX
n. 1. E20 US sl. – a sodomite
n. 2. 1949 US sl. – a person who performs oral sex on women
• LICK-DAB
n. 1911 Amer. dial. – gravy
• LICK DOWN
vb. 1994 UK sl. – to physically assault; to force submission
• LICKED
adj. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – bewildered; perplexed; baffled
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – dead
adj. 3. 1976 UK sl. – defeated
• LICKELL
adj. 18C Brit. colloq. – little
• LICKER
n. 1. 18C Brit. sl. – anything excessive in size, degree, quality
n. 2. c1910 Brit. sl. – an ice-cream cornet
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
n. 4. 1970s Brit. sl. – one who ‘creeps’ for favours; a toady
• LICKERISH
adj. 1. a1500 – fond of and eager for choice food
adj. 2. 1579 – greedy; longing
adj. 3. 1599 – lewd; lustful, lecherous
n. 1893 Amer. dial. – licorice
• LICKERISH ALL SORTS
adj. c1925 Brit. sl. – strongly sexed, lecherous
• LICKERTY-TOOT
adv. 1909 Amer. dial. – with great speed or vigour; quickly
• LICKETY-BANG
adv. 1935 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-BRINDLE
adv. 1905 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-BUMP
adv. 1943 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-CLICK
adv. 1847 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-CLIP
adv. 1913 – with great speed or vigour → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 1893 – to go fast → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-CUT
adv. 1831 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
vb. 1942 – to go fast → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• LICKETY-LARRUP
adv. 1907 \- with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-LEAP
adv. 1911 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-LINER
adv. 1848 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-SCOOT
adv. 1911 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY-SMASH
adv. 1889 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKETY SPLIT
adj. 1905 – very fast → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
adv. 1835 – at great speed; rapidly → Amer.
n. M20 – cunnilingus → US sl.
vb. 1942 – to go fast → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• LICKETY-TOOT
vb. 1942 – to go fast → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• LICKETY-WHITTLE
adv. 1904 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKING
adj. 1680 – first-rate, splendid, excellent → sl. obs.
n. 1. 1350 – a beating or thrashing → colloq.
n. 2. 1800 – a reversal or disappointment; defeat or setback → colloq.
• LICKING GOOD
adj. 1. 1913 – extremely good, very good → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
adj. 2. 1893 – of food: very good; highly palatable → Amer. dial.
• LICKING-MATCH
n. 1910 – a brawl → W. Indies sl.
• LICKING POST
n. 1. M19 – a gathering place → US sl.
n. 2. M19 – the moment of contention or decision; a decision, a pledge → US sl.
• LICK IN THE MUSH
n. 1942 – a blow in the face → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• LICK INTO FASHION
vb. 19C – to prepare, to get ready, esp. if the person or object is far from ready when one starts the ‘licking’ → sl., orig. US
• LICK INTO FITS
vb. L19 – to beat comprehensively → sl.
• LICK INTO SHAPE
vb. 19C – to prepare, to get ready, esp. if the person or object is far from ready when one starts the ‘licking’; to bring to completion or perfection through discipline, hard work, etc. → colloq., orig. US
• LICK IT
vb. 1850 – to move fast → Amer. dial.
• LICKITY-BLINDER
adv. 1896 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKITY-BRINDLE
adv. 1896 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKITY-RIP
adv. 1923 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKITY-SWITCH
adv. 1895 – with great speed or vigour; quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKLE
adj. 18C – little → Brit. colloq.
• LICK-LIP
adj. 1854 – fawning, wheedling → Sc.
• LICK-LOG
n. 1. 1887 – a point of contention or decision; a decision, a pledge → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1898 – a gathering place → Amer. dial.
vb. 1990 – (as ‘lick log’) to perform fellatio → US sl.
• LICK-MA- DOWP
adj. 1724 – obsequious, fawning → Sc.
• LICK-ME-LUG
n. 1990 – a toady, a sycophant → Irish sl.
• LICKMOUTH
n. 20C – cheap, nasty gossip → W. Indies sl.
• LICK-‘N’-LIKE
n. 1968 – candy on a stick to be licked; a lollipop → Amer. dial.
• LICK ONE’S CALF OVER
vb. 1931 – to do something again; to repeat an action inadequately → Amer. dial.
• LICK ONE’S FINGERS
vb. 1822 – to help oneself surreptitiously; to pilfer → Sc.
• LICK ONE’S FLINT
vb. 1953 – to prepare for a difficult task; to take precautions against disaster → Amer. dial.
• LICK-OVER
n. 1966 – a quick once-over; a piece of work done quickly → Amer. dial.
• LICKPENNY
n. 1. 1400 – one who ‘licks up’ the pennies; a greedy, covetous person; a miser; a spendthrift; an extortioner → obs.
n. 2. 1400 – something that makes the money go; something expensive → obs.
n. 3. 1899 – a scamp, a rascal → Sc.
• LICK-POT
n. 1946 – the index finger → Amer. dial.
• LICKS
n. 20C – a critical or complaining remark → colloq.
• LICKSKILLET
n. 1. 1893 – a contemptible or detestable person; a sycophant → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1965 – the part of a town where the poorer people, foreign groups, etc. live → Amer. dial.
• LICK SOMEONE’S ARSE (ASS)
vb. 1864 – to curry favour with someone, esp. in a blatant or degrading manner; to behave obsequiously towards → Amer. sl.
• LICK-SPIGOT
n. 1. 18C – a prostitute who performs fellatio → Brit. sl.
n. 2. 19C – a drunkard who would lick the spigot of a cask to get to the alcohol → Brit. colloq.
• LICKSPIT
n. 1620 – a contemptible, fawning person; a servile flatterer or toady
• LICKSPITTLE
n. 1. 1825 – a mean or abject parasite, sycophant, or toady; a servile flatterer
n. 2. 1914 – the practice of toadying
vb. 1886 – to toady to a person
• LICKSPLIT
vb. 1931 – to go as fast as possible → Amer. dial.
• LICK-SPLITTING
adv. 1931 – in haste, very rapidly → Amer. dial.
• LICKSTICK
n. 1968 – a lollipop → Amer. dial.
• LICK THE FAT FROM THE BEARD OF
vb. 1548 – to forestall the results of a person’s enterprise or industry → obs.
• LICK THE LETTER
vb. 1605 – to practice or study alliteration → obs.
• LICK THE MOLASSES OFF ONE’S BISCUIT
vb. 1978 – to frustrate, to anger, to torment → Amer. dial.
• LICK-THE-PLATES
n. 1838 – a scrounger, a parasite → Sc.
• LICK THE RED OFF ONE’S CANDY
vb. 1972 – to frustrate, to anger, to torment → Amer. dial.
• LICK THE WHITE OUT OF ONE’S EYE
vb. 1721 – to cheat, to deceive under the pretense of helping → Sc.
• LICK THUMBS
vb. 1958 – to reach an agreement → Amer. dial.
• LICK THY CALF
vb. 1898 – to improve or repair work that has been imperfectly or badly done → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• LICK-TRENCHER
n. 1787 – a glutton; a parasite
• LICK-TWAT
n. M17 – one who performs cunnilingus, presumably a male
• LICKUM GOOD
adj. 1913 – highly palatable → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
• LICK-UP
n. 1825 – a quarrel, a ‘dust-up’ → Sc.
• LICK-WANT
n. 1946 – famine, no food → Sc.
• LICK-WIMBLE
n. 19C – a heavy drinker; a drunkard who would lick the stopper in a cask to get at the alcohol → Brit. colloq.
• LICKWISH
n. 1899 – licorice → Amer. dial.
• LICORICE LASHER
n. 1942 – prizefighter Joe Louis → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• LICORICE STICK
n. 1. 1935 – a clarinet → US jazz sl.
n. 2. 1954 – a billy club; a cudgel → US sl.
• LICORICE-STICKER
n. 1935 – one who plays the clarinet → US jazz sl.
• LID
n. 1. 1878 – one of the covers of a book → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1896 – a hat; often applied to a soldier’s steel helmet or a motorcyclist’s crash helmet → sl.
n. 3. 1951 – a pound → UK rhyming sl. for ‘quid’ (Saucepan Lid)
n. 4. 1960 – a child → UK rhyming sl. for ‘kid’ (Saucepan Lid)
n. 5. 1960 – a Jewish person → UK rhyming sl. for ‘Yid’ (Saucepan Lid)
n. 6. 1967 – an ounce of marijuana → sl.
• LIDDEN
n. 1674 – noise, din, chatter → Eng. dial.
vb. 1926 – to echo, to resound; to make a constant noise → Sc.
• LIDDISDALE DROW
n. 1825 – a thick drizzle, a Scotch mist → Sc.
• LIDLY
adj. 1790 – ugly, loathsome, foul; clumsy → Sc.
• LIDO
n. 1. ..20C – a public open-air swimming pool → Brit.
n. 2. 1925 – a fashionable beach resort → Brit.
• LID OF THE KNEE
n. 1899 – the kneecap or patella → Sc.
• LIDPOPPERS
n. M20 – amphetamine tablets or capsules → US drug culture sl.
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Lexicophilia 