Obs. Forms: 1–2 líchama, -homa, 2 licama, 2–4 licome, lic(c)-, lich-, lick-, likham(e, likame, 4–5 lyc-, lygh-, lykam(e, 5–6 Sc. lec-, lekame, (5 licaym), ? 7 (ballad corruption) lingcan. [OE. líchama, -homa = OFris. liccoma, lîchama, lîkma, OS. likhamo (MDu. lichame, Du. lichaam), OHG. lîhhamo, lîhmo (MHG. lîchame, lîcham), ON. líkame, more commonly in str. form líkam-r (Sw. lekam, Da. legeme):—OTeut. type *lîko-hamon- wk. masc., f. *lîko- LICH, body + *hamon-, OE. hama shape, covering, garment. (OHG. had also a syntactical combination of the same meaning, lîhhinamo, *lîhhin-hamo, from the genitive of a wk. sb. lîhha = LICHE; hence MHG. lîchnam(e, mod.G. leichnam.)

1

  It has been suggested that the word was originally poetical, describing the body as the ‘fleshly garment’ of the soul. Cf. OE. feðerhama FEATHERHAM.]

2

  The body; the living body; also, the body as the seat of desire and appetite.

3

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiv. § 9. Se lichoma bið lichoma þa hwile þe he his limu ealle hæfð.

4

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. vi. 22. Ðines lichaman leohtfæt is ðin eaʓe.

5

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 229. Drihten … astah to heofene … mid þan ilce licama þe he onþrowode.

6

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 47. Þa bi-com his licome swiðe feble.

7

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1052. An lerdest hi to don shome An un-riȝt of hire licome.

8

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 635. Bath war naked þar licam, Bot þar for thoght þam þen na scham. Ibid., 22324. Wit-vten last al his licam [Edin. MS. liccame].

9

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 32. For no lykerouse lyflode hure lykame to plese.

10

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 3282. His lire and his lyghame lamede fulle sore.

11

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 17. To sle the lust of hore lycam, and hore lykyng.

12

c. 1440.  York Myst., v. 100. A! Eue, þou art to blame … me shames with my lyghame.

13

c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 900. He lukit to his lykame that lemyt so licht.

14

a. 1510.  Douglas, K. Hart, I. 11. In all his lusty lecam nocht ane spot.

15

a. 1783.  K. Henry, v. in Child, Ballads, I. 299. He’s thrown to her his gay mantle Says ‘Lady, hap your lingcan.’

16

  b.  A dead body; a corpse.

17

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 106. Þer leien ofte licomes iroted buuen eorðe.

18

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12295. Dun o þis loft he yod, Til he com þar þat licam lai. Ibid., 24599. Quen his licam in stan was laid, Allas! allas! ful oft was said.

19

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VII. 281. With a claith I couerit his licaym.

20