Obs. Forms: 6 lil, lylle, 6–7 lill, (7 lell). [Onomatopœic: cf. LOLL v.] trans. To loll or hang (the tongue) out (rarely forth). Also (rarely) intr. said of the tongue.
1530. Palsgr., 611/1. I lylle out the tonge, as a beest dothe that is chafed, je hallette.
1587. Mascall, Govt. Cattle (1627), 15. Ye shall see him lil and hold out his tongue.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. v. 34. Cerberus … lilled forth his bloody flaming tong.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. v. 228. As the Woodpecker, his long tongue doth lill Out of the clov’n pipe of his horny bill To catch the Emets.
1600. Holland, Livy, VII. x. 255. Scornfully lelling and blaring out his tongue.
1611. Florio, Lucerna … Also the Lantern-fish, which lilling foorth his tongue, yeelds a great blaze or light. Ibid., s.v. Lingua, Like a tongue lilling out of the mouth.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 219. They shall … lill out their tongue, like a Calfe.
1656. W. B., trans. Comenius’ Gate Lat. Unl., ¶ 651. A scorner sheweth his slightings and scorns … by distorting his lips, lilling out his tongue [etc.].
1893. Wiltsh. Gloss., Lill, to pant as a dog.
