▪ I. † lig, n. Obs.
Also 7 ligge.
[Origin obscure; the identity of the word in the two quots. is not certain.]
a. A projection. b. A band, stripe.
| 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry iii. xiii. (1611) 125 When any part is thus born with ligges, like peeces of the flesh or skinne, depending, it is termed erasing. 1686 Goad Celest. Bodies ii. vii. 252, I cannot..empale each Page of this Discourse with a Black mourning Lig. |
▪ II. lig, v.
(lɪg)
[f. dial. var. of lie v.1]
To idle or lie about (colloq.); also (slang), to sponge, to ‘freeload’; to gatecrash or attend parties.
| 1960 20th Cent. Feb. 154 The ponce's air of having a function, an occupation..which totally distinguishes him from the mere ‘ligging’ layabout. 1967 Melody Maker 21 Jan. 6 When I was demobbed in 1960 I had no intention of going back to my trade as a fitter. I ligged around and joined Mike Peters. 1967 Sun 22 Feb. 6/6 Lig, loon, to kick one's heels or lounge about. 1969 It 4–17 July 10/2 It's a time for ligging in the streets and doing your thing, man. 1976 Zigzag Apr. 32/2 The Feelgoods, now ligging and gigging around America. 1981 New Standard 2 June 23/3 Ligging, partying. 1985 Radio Times 6 Apr. 16/2 [I] suddenly twigged what ligging was all about when I got my first job as a researcher on Aquarius. I found..I could get free tickets for everything, everywhere. 1985 Times 9 Apr. 8/5 A penniless young man who begins in Trafalgar Square with nothing but a pair of underpants and ligs his way onward and upward with clean-cut charm. |
▪ III. lig
obs. and dial var. lie v.1 (see also lig v.).