lick(v.1)
古英语 liccian “舔过表面,舔起来”,源自原始日耳曼语 *likkon(也包括古撒克逊语 likkon,荷兰语 likken,古高地德语 lecchon,德语 lecken,哥特语 bi-laigon),源自 PIE 词根 *leigh- “舔”。
据说法语 lécher,意大利语 leccare 是日耳曼语借词。比喻性的 lick (one's) lips 表示渴望,始于大约1500年。Lick-ladle(1849)是指(人类)寄生虫的古老短语。将某人或某物 lick (someone or something) into shape(1610年代)是指熊的假定方式:
Beres ben brought forthe al fowle and transformyd and after that by lyckyng of the fader and the moder they ben brought in to theyr kyndely shap. ["The Pylgremage of the Sowle," 1413]
“Beres ben brought forthe al fowle and transformyd and after that by lyckyng of the fader and the moder they ben brought in to theyr kyndely shap. [“The Pylgremage of the Sowle,” 1413]