Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1791, 1898
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†LICH(E), n. A corpse. In Sc. only in combs. lich-bird, -fowl, the nightjar, Caprimulgus Europaeus. Found in poet. usage only and from its form a borrowing from Eng. dial. Cf. Lyke. [lɪtʃ]Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 12:
The howlet screamt, The liche fowle's hoarse, Did fairly deave her ear.Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 184:
When mortals slept, and lichbirds wakit.
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"Lich n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/liche>
