Lithy

a. dial. Forms: 1 liðiʓ, leoþi, 4–5 leþi, 4–6 lethy, -ie, 5–6 lithie, -ye, 6 lythey, 6–7 lythy, -ie, 7– lithy. [OE. liðiʓ = ON. liðug-r yielding, nimble, free, unimpeded, MDu. ledech unimpeded, unoccupied (Du. ledig, leeg empty, vacant, unoccupied), MHG. ledic free, unimpeded (mod.G. ledig unoccupied, vacant). The ulterior etymology is obscure; see Kluge s.v. ledig.] Pliable, flexible, supple; soft, unresisting.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives (1885), I. 224. Þa ʓelæhte petrus hire liþian hand.

a. 1023.  Wulfstan, Hom., xlvi. (1883), 234/22. Heo [sc. a man’s heart] biþ liðiʓ Swa clað … onʓean deofles lare.

c. 1315.  Shoreham (E.E.T.S.), vii. 590. Ȝef eny loȝ þer leþi were.

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, III. vii. (Skeat), l. 101. So oft falleth the lethy water on the harde rocke, till it haue through persed it.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. vi. (Tollem. MS.). Suche children ben nesche of flesche, leþi [ed. 1535 lethye, ed. 1582 lythie] and pliant of body. Ibid., XVII. ii. (1495), N iiij b/2. That stalke is fyrste feble & lethy: and that for defawte of harde humour.

a. 1400.  Disp. Mary & Cross, 483, in Leg. Rood (1871), 147. I bar þi fruit leoþi and lene.

14[?].  Sir Beues (MS. M.), 647. All to leþy the spere was wrought.

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 9779 (Trin.). Þenne were he leþyere [Laud lethier, Cott., Gött. wayker] þen he was ere.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 121, marg. Y^t thei might haue their ioynctes nymble & lithye.

1573.  Twyne, Æneid., XII. M m ij b. And up shee leapes, and lithie raignes with hand she turneth round.

1598.  [R. Carew], Herrings Tayle, B. Their lithie bodies bound with limits of a shell.

a. 1618.  Sylvester, Spectacles, xli. The World’s Weapons were but lythie Wax; And Vertue’s Shield is of celestiall Fier.

1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 227. It hath many small weake, but lithy and tough slender greene stalks.

1843.  Borrow, Bible in Spain, x. His limbs were now thoroughly lithy, and he brandished his fore legs in a manner perfectly wondrous.

1848.  Blackw. Mag., LXIV. 259. A man … in the full active use of his lithy form.

  † b.  fig. Weak, feeble. Obs.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 184. Ac theologie … A ful lethy þinge it were ȝif þat loue nere.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Roll), VII. 157. My cause … may be made lethy [L. infirmari], and it may be reysed up.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), Ll iv. Ye are … in aduersitie feeble and lethy.