1590. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Castrare ... to lib.
Libbeg (or Lybbeg), subs. (Old Cant).—See quots. [Gael. leabadh or
leabaidh].
1573. Harman, Caveat (1814), 65. Lyb bege, a bed.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874).
Lybbeg, a bedde.
1665. R. Head, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. v. p. 50 (1874). Libedge,
a Bed.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Libben, subs. (Old Cant).—A private house. Cf. Libken.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Liberty-hall, subs. (colloquial).— A house where every one can do his
pleasure.
1778. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, ii. Gentlemen, pray be
under no restraint in this house; this is Liberty Hall, gentlemen;
you may do just as you please here.
1890. Hume Nisbet, Bail Up, p. 75. They did not bother with
dressing for supper in this liberty hall.
Lib-ken (or Lypken), subs. (Old Cant).—See quots.
1573. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A lypken, a house to lye in.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874).
Lybkin, a house to lodge people.
1621. Jonson, Gipsies Metamorphosed. To their libkins at the
crackmans.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Libken, c, a House to lye in;
also a Lodging.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xliv. These are the fees I always
charge a swell that must have his lib-ken to himself—thirty
shillings a week for lodgings, and a guinea for garnish;
half-a-guinea a week for a single bed.
1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, iii. Bk. ch. i. p. 256. ‘We can
sel-’em to the ‘mot’ (landlady) of the Libb-ken (lodging-house) for
a good deal.’
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Lick, subs. (old).—1. A blow. Hence, his licks = a thrashing. For
synonyms see Wipe.
d. 1701. Dryden [quoted by Johnson]. He gave me a lick across the
face.
1753. Foote, Englishman in Paris, i. I lent him a lick in his
lanthorn-jaws.
1755. Johnson, Eng. Dict., s.v. Lick. A low word.
b. 1785. Forbes, Dominie Deposed, 28. He committed all these
tricks, For which he well deserv’d his licks.
1785. Grose, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. Lick.... I’ll give you a good lick
o’ the chops, I’ll give you a good stroke, or blow on the face.
1786. Burns, Epistle to W. Simpson, ‘Postscript.’ Frae less to mair
it gaed to sticks; Frae words and aiths to clours and nicks, And
mony a fallow gat his licks, Wi’ hearty crunt.
1821. Pierce Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 78. Oh I took him
such a lick of his mummer.
1840. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Ingoldsby Penance.’ I gave him a
lick With a stick, And a kick.
1851–61. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, i. 41. If a cove was to
fetch me a lick of the head, I’d give it him again.