Lick (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Licked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Licking.] [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likkn, D. likken, OHG. lecchn, G. lecken, Goth. bi-laign, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. , Skr. lih, rih. . Cf. Lecher, Relish.]
1.
To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand.
Addison.
2.
To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk.
Shak.
To lick the dust, to be slain; to fall in battle. "His enemies shall lick the dust." Ps. lxxii. 9. -- To lick into shape, to give proper form to; -- from a notion that the bear's cubs are born shapeless and subsequently formed by licking. Hudibras. -- To lick the spittle of, to fawn upon. South. -- To lick up, to take all of by licking; to devour; to consume entirely. Shak. Num. xxii. 4.
© Webster 1913.
Lick, n. [See Lick, v.]
1.
A stroke of the tongue in licking.
"A
lick at the honey pot."
Dryden.
2.
A quick and careless application of anything, as if by a stroke of the tongue, or of something which acts like a tongue; as, to put on colors with a lick of the brush. Also, a small quantity of any substance so applied.
[Colloq.]
A lick of court white wash.
Gray.
3.
A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but not always, near salt springs.
[U. S.]
© Webster 1913.
Lick, v. t. [Cf. OSw. lagga to place, strike, prick.]
To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter.
[Colloq. or Low]
Carlyle. Thackeray.
© Webster 1913.
Lick, n.
A slap; a quick stroke.
[Colloq.] "A
lick across the face."
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.