lig

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A lie, a falsehood.—Lancashire. In old ballads the word "lie" is often spelt "LIG." In old Saxon, LIG is to lie, but to lie as in a bed.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “lig” mean?

A lie, a falsehood.—Lancashire. In old ballads the word "lie" is often spelt "LIG." In old Saxon, LIG is to lie, but to lie as in a bed.

Is “lig” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.