lip English · revision 7592

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=gem-pro *lepjōn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /lɪp/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English lippe, [[inh|ang|lippa|t=lip]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Proto-Germanic *lepjōn,^(Barnhart 1988) source also of Old Frisian lippa, Middle Dutch lippe (Dutch [[m|nl|lip]]), Old High German lefs, Swedish läpp and Danish læbe.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is probably related to Latin [[m|la|labium|t=lip]] and labrum,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) and Barnhart gives PIE *leb-,^(Barnhart 1988) but Boutkan and de Vaan reject the traditional Indo-European derivation, and it may be a substratum word.^(Etymonline) French lippe is an Old French borrowing from Germanic.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Either fleshy fold of the mouth: about 1000, in Ælfric's ''Glossary'';^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) lippe before 1200.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The lips as organs of speech, often figuratively, are from about 1020.^(OED 1989) To bite one's lip, showing vexation or repressing emotion, is from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The edge or margin of a cup or other opening is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) Saucy talk, impudence, is from 1821,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) probably from ''move the lip'' (1579), to utter the slightest word against someone.^(Barnhart 1988) Word Origins notes that the ''stiff upper lip'', despite its link with a certain type of Englishman, comes from the United States;^(Cresswell 2021) Etymonline dates it from 1833.^(Etymonline) The verb, to kiss, is from 1604, in Shakespeare's ''Othello''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – lippa.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – bite one's lip.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – the edge of a cup.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1604 – to kiss (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1821 – impudence.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1833 – stiff upper lip.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Either of the two fleshy folds around the opening of the [[mouth]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The edge or [[rim]] of a container or opening.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(slang)'' Impudent talk; [[cheek]].^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To touch with the lips; to kiss.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Of water, to [[lap]] against.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(golf)'' To hit the ball so that it touches the edge of the hole without dropping in.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lipless]]

+ * [[liplike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[labial]]

+ * [[labium]]

+ * [[lipstick]]

+ * [[lip service]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}