Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 lheuc, 4–5 lewk(e, 5 leuk(e, (luk, 6 Sc. luik), 3–6, 9 luke. [The ME. forms lheuc, leuk, and the modern pronunciation, appear to point to a derivation from OE. hléow LEW a., perh. through the medium of a vb. *hlíewcian: see LUKE v.
Notwithstanding the resemblance in form and meaning, it seems impossible to connect the word etymologically with mod.Du. leak (pronounced lōk) lukewarm, LG. lūk, luke, lōk, tepid, weak, slack. See LUKEWARM.]
1. = LUKEWARM 1.
c. 1205. Lay., 27557. And opened wes his breoste. Þa blod com forð luke.
13[?]. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 7481 (MS. Harl.). Als a lewke bath nouther hate ne calde.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 149. In reward of which flamme oure fire is but lewk.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 61. Yf luk water hem biwepe They wole be grete.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr., II. (W. de W., 1495), 228 b/2. He dranke luke water.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxxiii. Let me have nine penn’orth o’ brandy and water luke.
2. = LUKEWARM 2.
1340. Ayenb., 31. He is fyeble and lheuc to alle guodes to done.
1388. Wyclif, Rev. iii. 16. Thou art lew [v.r. lewk] and nether cold, nether hoot.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. viii. 184. Thouȝ in ech chapel … may be ymagis of God and of Marie and of Seintis forto make bi hem sengil and leuke remembrauncis.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, I. xxv. 37. The negligent religiose & þe leuke haþ tribulacion.
3. Comb., as luke-hearted adj.; luke-hot a. = LUKEWARM.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. iii. (1495), 605. Oyle of almondes clensyth and purgyth matere of eeres yf it be luke hote [Bodl. E. Mus. MS. wlache hote] droppyd therin.
c. 1450. ME. Med. Bk. (Heinrich), 217. Mak alle þus lewk hot to geder.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 498. I am so loik [MS. M. luik] hertit.
Hence † Lukely adv., † Lukeness.
1340. Ayenb., 31. Huanne þe man loueþ lite and lheucliche oure lhord, þet he ssolde louye bernindeliche.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 302/1. Lewkenesse, tepor.
1597. J. King, On Jonas (1618), 406. His lukenesse and neutrality of dealing in his seruice did so much offend him.
