lisk Now dial.
(lɪsk)
Forms: α. 3 Orm. lesske, 5–7 leske, 6 Sc. leisk, 7– lesk. β. 6– lisk, (7 liske, lysk). γ. 5–6 laske, 8 lask.
[Prob. of Scandinavian origin: cf. MSw. liuske, liumske (mod.Sw. ljumske) masc., Da. lyske, MDu., Flemish liesche fem. (mod.Du. lies fem.); a form lesca ‘inguen’ in the Werden Glosses (Gallée O.S. Texts 360) may possibly be OE. (for *léosca), but the sk (instead of sh) of the ME. and mod. forms shows that they do not descend from this.]
The loin or flank; also, the groin.
| α c 1200 Ormin 4776 Lende, & lesske, & shulldre, & bacc. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1097 Lyme and leskes fulle lothyne. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 298/2 Leske (or flanke), inguen. 1483 Cath. Angl. 214/1 A Leske, ypocondria. 1513 Douglas æneis x. x. 103 At his left flank or leisk [1553 lisk] persyt tyte. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 32 In the leske or groyne are the Emunctories of the Liuer. 1639 Horn & Rob. Gate Lang. Unl. xxi. §255 In the lesk, under the groin or share, are the privities or secrets. 1847 Halliwell, Lesk, the groin or flank. 1886 S.W. Linc. Gloss. s.v. Lesk, My husband's broke his body, and it presses on his lesk. |
| β 1508 Dunbar Flyting w. Kennedie 121 Lene larbar, loungeour, baith lowsy in lisk and lonȝe. 1603 in Pitcairn Crim. Trials II. 417 Be the straik of ane sword in the lisk and the wambe. 1679 Lauderdale Papers (1885) III. xciv. 163 Wounded..in the groyn or lisk with a partizan. 1690 Lond. Gaz. No. 2575/4 A white Mare,..blew Spots about the Lysk, bob-tail'd. 1709 Jacob. Songs (1887) 57 Ane proddit her in the lisk Anither aneath the tail. 1857 Gen. P. Thompson Audi Alt. I. xxiv. 93 There was but one point on which he could not bear being attacked, like a horse which will not stand being touched in the lisk. |
| γ ? 14.. Harl. MS. 219, lf. 150 (in Promp. Parv. 298) Mes flanks, my laskes. 1552 Huloet, Laske or flancke, pyga. 1781 J. Hutton Tour to Caves 92 Gloss., Lisk, or lask, the flank. |