n. [ See Lick, v. ] 1. A stroke of the tongue in licking. “A lick at the honey pot.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A quick and careless application of anything, as if by a stroke of the tongue, or of something which acts like a tongue; as, to put on colors with a lick of the brush. Also, a small quantity of any substance so applied. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A lick of court whitewash. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but not always, near salt springs. Called also salt lick. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. OSw. lägga to place, strike, prick. ] To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter. [ Colloq. or Low ] Carlyle. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A slap; a quick stroke. [ Colloq. ] “A lick across the face.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Licked p. pr. & vb. n. Licking. ] [ AS. liccian; akin to OS. likkōn, D. likken, OHG. lecchōn, G. lecken, Goth. bi-laigōn, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lei`chein , Skr. lih, rih. √121. Cf. Lecher, Relish. ] 1. To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To lick the dust, to be slain; to fall in battle. “His enemies shall lick the dust.” Ps. lxxii. 9. --
To lick into shape, to give proper form to; -- from a notion that the bear's cubs are born shapeless and subsequently formed by licking. Hudibras. --
To lick the spittle of, to fawn upon. South. --
To lick up, to take all of by licking; to devour; to consume entirely. Shak. Num. xxii. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Lecher. ] One who, or that which, licks. [ 1913 Webster ]

Licker in (Carding Machine), the drum, or cylinder, by which the lap is taken from the feed rollers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. Lecherous. ] 1. Eager; craving; urged by desire; eager to taste or enjoy; greedy. “The lickerish palate of the glutton.” Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Tempting the appetite; dainty. “Lickerish baits, fit to insnare a brute.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Lecherous; lustful. Robert of Brunne. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Lick"er*ish*ly, adv. -- Lick"er*ish*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Lickerish; eager; lustful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Lick"er*ous*ness, n. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

n. 1. A lapping with the tongue. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A flogging or castigation. [ Colloq. or Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A devourer or absorber of money. “Law is a lickpenny.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A tapster. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]