1846. Thackeray, Jeames's Diary (in Punch, x. p. 13). It was Mary Hann who summind the House and put an end to my physty coughs with Fitz warren. I licked him and bare him no mallis.
1870. Daily News, 25 Nov. 'Leader.' 'We ought to believe,' says the Bishop of Carlisle 'that an Englishman can lick a Frenchman, a German or any body else.'
1888. Missouri Republican, 2 Feb. I'm a terror from Philadelphia, and I can lick any man in the world.
1892. Lippincott's Mag., Oct., p. 500. Till Big-Foot Zekel, who used to laff At his genteel manners, quit his chaff, An' give out the statement, cold an' chill, He'd lick the duffer as used Hank ill.
2. (colloquial).—1. To surpass; to vanquish; and (2) to puzzle or astound. Fr. bouler. [Cf. Creation, Hollow, Shine etc.].
1864. Derby Day, 39. 'As sure as the sun shines, Askpart 'll lick 'em; if so be,' he added significantly, 'as there ain't no cross.' Ibid. 79. 'Don't you know Little un?' 'They lick me,' answered the trainer.
1871. Durham County Advertizer, 10 Nov. 'By G—, chum, it licks me how the bottom itself did not tumble clean away from the ship.'
1888. 'Rolf Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxxi. But in his own line you couldn't lick him. Ibid. xxiv. It licked me to think it had been hid away all the time.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, 108. 'Lets hope you'll draw the winner, Ike,' said Kingdon. 'If you do, and Caloola gets licked, you can pull us through,' he laughed.
3. (old).—1. To sleek; (2) to tittivate (q.v.); (3) to smooth over, with varnish, rouge, and so forth; to fashion.
1594. Nashe, Have With You, etc. [Grosart, iii. 99]. Spending a whole forenoone euerie daie in spunging and licking himselfe by the glasse.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Lickt. Pictures new varnished, Houses new whitened, or Women's faces with a wash.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Lick.
1853. Taylor, Life of Haydon, p. 212. Modern cartoons with few exceptions are licked (smoothed) and polished intentionally.
4. (American).—To coax.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
To lick into shape, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fashion; to train. [From the popular idea that the bear's young are born shapeless and are licked into shape by the dam].
1663. Butler, Hudibras, i. 3, 1308. A bear's . . . most ugly and unnatural . . . until the dam has licked it into shape and form.
1870. Figaro, 6 July. My essay on 'The Busy Bee' Wants licking into fashion.
To lick spittle, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fawn upon. Hence, lickspittle, subs. = a parasite or talebearer.
A lick and a promise, subs. phr. (common).—A piece of sloveliness.
To lick the eye, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be well-pleased.
A lick and a smell, subs. phr. (common).—A dog's portion (q.v.).
To lick the trencher, verb. phr. (old).—To play the parasite.
1608. Withal, Dictionarie, 263. A fellow that can licke his lordes or his ladies trencher in one smooth tale or merrie lye, and picke their purses in another.
To lick one's dish, verb. phr. (old).—To drink.—Ray (1767).
Lick-box (-dish, -fingers, -pan,
-pot, -sauce, or -trencher), subs.
(old).—See quot. 1598; a general
epithet of abuse.
