Dictionary

lich-wake en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (Scotland, obsolete) The wake, or watching, held over a corpse before burial.
   • Funeral rites in the house (lich wakes) should be avoided out of regard for the health of the members of the family. 1913, The Journal of State Medicine:
   • The custom of the "lich-wake," corresponding largely with the surviving Irish custom of waking the dead, had not then died out in Scotland, and in Monifieth was frequently practised. 2016, Arthur Morrison, The Shadows Around Us:
   • In some parts of Scotland is still kept up the custon of Lyke-wake (Lich-wake), or watching beside the dead body before its burial. 1871, Walter Field, Stones of the temple, or, Lessons from the fabric and furniture of the church:

Forms

Synonyms

late-wake