Middle English word lik comes from Proto-Indo-European *leig-, Proto-Indo-European *leiĝ-, and later Proto-Germanic *līką (Body. Corpse, dead body.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *leig- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | to bounce, shake, tremble, jump, whirl |
| *leiĝ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *līką | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Body. Corpse, dead body. |
| lic | Old English (ang) | (poetic) a (living) body, especially the torso. Dead body, corpse. |
| lik | Middle English (enm) |