Obs. Forms: 2 Orm. leȝȝk, 3 leyk, 4 laic, 4–6 laik(e, layk(e, 5 lak(e. [a. ON. leik-r play, corresp. to OE. lác neut. or masc. warlike activity (once only; but see LAKE sb.1), OHG. leich masc. and neut. song, melody, Goth. laik-s dance:—OTeut. *laiko-, a verbal sb. from *laikan to play, LAKE v.1]
1. Play, sport, fun, glee. In pl. games, tricks, goings on.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2166. Inn ægæde and in leȝȝkess.
c. 1300. Havelok, 1021. For it ne was non horse-knaue … That he ne kam thider, the leyk to se.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 274. Þat for her lodlych laykez alosed þay were.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 465. We ne louen in our land no laik nor no mirthe.
a. 1400. Sir Perc., 1704. The childe hadd no powste His laykes to lett.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4685. Þe cursed laike o couatis ware clene with it drenchid.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xvi. 66. Welcom hym worshipfully laghyng with lake.
1570. Levins, Manip., 198/15. A layke, play, ludus.
b. A stake at play.
1597. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 1109. I pledge, or all the play be playd That sum sall lose a laike.
2. A fight, contest.
[a. 1000. Guthlac, 1007. Wiʓa nealæceð unlæt laces.]
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10408. Þe lyght wex lasse, and þe laik endit.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 538 (Douce MS.). Lordes and ladies of þat laike likes.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 832. Thus may ye lippin on the lake, throu lair that I leir.
1515. Scot. Field, 569, in Chetham Misc. (1856), II. This layke lasted on the lande, the lengthe of fower howers.
