lice

lice¹ barrier, lists

Pronunciation

• /lis/^[1]

Forms

lice f (plural lices)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the barrier and the lists is borrowed from Frankish *listja (“barrier”),^{[2][3][4][5][6]} a derivative of *lista (“border, strip”), the source of liste.^[2][4][7] The same Germanic word gave English list, Dutch lijst and German Leiste.^[4][1] The French word was borrowed into Italian lizza, Spanish liza, Portuguese liça and Catalan lliça.^[1][8]

P. Guiraud rejected the Germanic origin and connected the word instead with the derivatives of Latin licium (“warp thread”), through a shared idea of separation.^[4][3] Littré thought the origin uncertain and reported Du Cange's derivation from that Latin word, which Diez rejected on grounds of sense.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Roman de Thèbes (about 1150) it means a barrier or palisade.^[2] Littré quotes a 12th-century line from Garin in which a fight begins before the lices.^[8]

Semantic evolution

In Old and Middle French the word named the enclosed field where jousts and tournaments were held (1278), and more generally a fenced space set aside for horse races and contests (1538).^[4][2] It has kept the sense of a fence round a racecourse or fairground, but survives above all in entrer en lice, first “to fight” and, figuratively from 1622, “to join a debate”.^[4][2] Quemada's datings find entrer en lice as early as 1564, earlier than the TLFi's 1585.^[9]

Technical senses followed: the barrier along a riding track (1691),^[2] a horizontal timber on posts and the parapet of a wooden bridge (1704, Trévoux),^[7] and in sport the kerb that marks the inside edge of a track (Larousse, 1962).^[7] In sports reporting (1949) être en lice means “to be in the running”.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 1150 – First recorded as “barrier, palisade” in the Roman de Thèbes.^[2]
• c. 1155 – Wace uses it of the ground enclosed by the palisade.^[7][4]
• 1278 – It names the enclosed field of a joust, in Sarrazin's Roman du Hem.^[2][4]
• 1538 – Robert Estienne records it for a course where races are run.^[2][4]
• 1564 – Entrer en lice “to fight” appears in a pamphlet against Ronsard.^[9]
• 1622 – Entrer en lice is used figuratively for joining a debate.^[2][4]
• 1691 – D'Aviler uses it for the barrier along a riding track.^[2]
• 1949 – Être en lice “to take part in a competition” appears in Le Soir.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. (historical) A wooden palisade round a fortified castle.^[3][5][10]
2. (historical) The enclosed field where jousts and tournaments were held, the lists.^[2][5][10]
3. An enclosure for outdoor exercises or contests, an arena.^[5][7]
4. (sport) The kerb marking the inside edge of an athletics or cycling track.^[5][7]
5. (carpentry) A horizontal timber fixed on posts to form a railing.^[5][8]
6. Entrer en lice: to enter a contest, or to join a debate.^[10][2]

lice² hound bitch

Pronunciation

• /lis/^[1]

Forms

lice f (plural lices)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the hound bitch is probably inherited from Vulgar Latin *licia,^{[2][11][12][1]} from Latin lycisca (“a dog born of a wolf and a bitch, or of a dog and a she-wolf”),^[11][5] the feminine of lyciscus (“wolf-dog”).^[2][1] In popular speech the Latin word lost its suffix, which gave the Vulgar Latin form.^[2][11] Rey traces it to Ancient Greek λύκος (lúkos, “wolf”).^[4][13]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the Roman de Renart (1174–1176),^[2] and in Anglo-Norman as “hound bitch” about 1165.^[14]

Semantic evolution

It has remained a hunting term for the female of a hunting dog.^[4][2] The Académie has recorded it since 1740.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 1165 – An Anglo-Norman text uses it for a hound bitch.^[14]
• 1174–1176 – Recorded in the Roman de Renart.^[2]
• 1740 – Entered in the Académie's dictionary.^[2]
• 1922 – Colette uses it of sprawling, heavy-teated bitches.^[2][12]

Meanings

Noun

1. (hunting) The bitch of a hunting dog, especially one kept for breeding.^[12][5][1]