Lick"-spit`tle (-spt`t'l), n. An abject flatterer or parasite. Theodore
Hook.
Lic"o*rice (lk"*rs), n. [OE. licoris, through old French, fr. L.
liquiritia, corrupted fr. glycyrrhiza, Gr. glyky`rriza; glyky`s sweet +
"ri`za root. Cf. Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza, Wort.] [Written also
liquorice.] 1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza (G. glabra), the
root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much used in demulcent
compositions.
2. The inspissated juice of licorice root, used as a confection and for
medicinal purposes.
Licorice fern (Bot.), a name of several kinds of polypody which have
rootstocks of a sweetish flavor. -- Licorice sugar. (Chem.) See
Glycyrrhizin. -- Licorice weed (Bot.), the tropical plant Scapania
dulcis. -- Mountain licorice (Bot.), a kind of clover (Trifolium
alpinum), found in the Alps. It has large purplish flowers and a
sweetish perennial rootstock. -- Wild licorice. (Bot.) (a) The North
American perennial herb Glycyrrhiza lepidota. (b) Certain broad-leaved
cleavers (Galium circæzans and G. lanceolatum). (c) The leguminous
climber Abrus precatorius, whose scarlet and black seeds are called
black-eyed Susans. Its roots are used as a substitute for those of true
licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).
Lic"o*rous (lk"*rs), a. See Lickerish. -- Lic"o*rous*ness, n. [Obs.]
Herbert.
Lic"our (lk"r), n. Liquor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lic"tor (lk"tr), n. [L.] (Rom. Antiq.) An officer who bore an ax and
fasces or rods, as ensigns of his office. His duty was to attend the
chief magistrates when they appeared in public, to clear the way, and
cause due respect to be paid to them, also to apprehend and punish
criminals.
Lictors and rods, the ensigns of their power.
Milton.
Lid (ld), n. [AS. hlid, fr. hldan (in comp.) to cover, shut; akin to
OS. hldan (in comp.), D. lid lid, OHG. hlit, G. augenlid eyelid, Icel.
hlið gate, gateway. √40.]
1. That which covers the opening of a vessel or box, etc.; a movable
cover; as, the lid of a chest or trunk.