1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. (To Reader), p. 9. Not onely licktrenchers but claw backs, which curry favour with great men by their false appeachings.
1575. Gammer Gurton's Needle, v. 2. Thou lier lickdish, didst not say the neele wold be gitton?
1594. Lochrine, iii. 3. You slop-*sauce, lickfingers, will you not hear?
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Leccapiatti, a licke-dish, a scullion in a kitching, a slouen. Ibid. s.v. Leccapignatte, a lick-pot, scullion . . . a slouenly greasie fellow.
1602. Decker, Satiro-mastix, in Works (1873), i. 234. Art hardy, noble Huon? art Magnanimious, licke-trencher?
1631. Chettle, Hoffman, 1. ii. Liar, liar, lick-dish.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, ii. ch. xxx. Agamemnon is a lick-box.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
b.1794. Wolcot ['P. Pindar'], Ode upon Ode, in Works (Dublin 1795), vol. i. p. 321. A cobbler, baker, chang'd to a musician, Butlers, lick-trenchers! my reader roars.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, Bk. vi. ch. xxiii. He had a passion for independence, which, though pushed to excess, was not without grandeur. No lick-platter, no parasite, no toad-eater, no literary beggar, no hunter after patronage and subscriptions.
Licker, subs. (common).—Anything
monstrous, excessive, or unusual;
A whopper (q.v.); A thumper
(q.v.); A spanker (q.v.).
Lickety-split, adv. (American).—Headlong;
violently; full chisel
(q.v.).
1869. H. B. Stowe, Old Town Folks, 358. If they didn't whip up and go lickity-split down that 'ere hill.
Licking, subs. (common).—A thrashing.
For synonyms see Tanning.
1820. Combe, Syntax, Consolation, C. III. In vulgar terms, he'd had his licking, Not with Ma'am's cuffs, but by her kicking.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, ii. 320. What still at your tricking? I see you won't rest until you've got a good licking.
1838. C. Selby, Hunting a Turtle, I owes you a licking, so I'll pay you.
1871. Figaro, 22 April, 'Public School' etc. Various punishments that, in schoolboy language, are called 'woppings,' lickings, and 'spankings,' may be received by the sufferers with a grim John Bullish resolve to endure the pain with a martyr's fortitude.
1882. F. Anstey, Vice-Versâ, v. If I hear of her favouring you more than any other fellows, I'll give you the very best licking you ever had in your life. So look out!
1889. Polytechnic Magazine, 24 Oct. 264. The Wanderers journeyed down to Tottenham, to play the above club, half anticipating a licking.
Lick-penny, subs. and adj. (old).—An
extortioner.
d.1450. Lydgate, London lick-penny (Title).
1825. Scott, St. Ronan's Well, xxviii. Law is a lick-penny Mr. Tyrell—no counsellor like the pound in purse.
Lick-spigot, subs. (old).—1. A
tapster.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe [Grosart (1885), v. 300]. Let the cunningest licke-spiggot swelt his heart out.
1703. Ward, London Spy, Pt. xv. p. 346. He that Salutes the old lickspiggot with other Title than that of Mr. Church-Warden, runs the hazard of paying double Taxes.
2. (venery).—A fellatrix; a cock-sucker (q.v.).
Lick-spittle, subs. (old).—A toady.
Fr. un lèche-bottes. For synonyms
see Snide. Also as verb.
1629. Davenant, Albovine, iii. Lick her spittle From the ground. This disguised humility Is both the swift, and safest way to pride.
