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Glite Dictionary
lichgate

lichgate

9.9
A roofed gate at a churchyard where coffins rest during funerals
  • noun
  • /ˈlɪkˌɡeɪt/
  • UK
: lichgate
  • The lichgate provided shelter from the rain as the funeral procession paused outside the church.

Examples

  • During the Victorian era, mourners would gather under the lichgate before the burial service.

  • The old church still has its original lichgate standing at the entrance to the graveyard.

  • The old lichgate stood at the entrance of the churchyard.

  • Many visitors admire the lichgate for its historical significance.

  • During the Victorian era, mourners would gather under the lichgate before the burial service.

  • The lichgate provided shelter from the rain as the funeral procession paused outside the church.

  • The old church still has its original lichgate standing at the entrance to the graveyard.

Synonyms

lychgate
vslichgate
  • UK
9.9

A roofed gateway at the entrance to a churchyard where people shelter a coffin before a funeral

is the modern spelling variant of the same term

Surface Forms

lichgate singular
lichgates plural

Morphology

lichgate = lich + gate (semi-transparent) = lich + gate

The components 'lich' (corpse) and 'gate' (gateway) are compositionally clear, but 'lich' is archaic and the specific funeral-shelter function is historical and not obvious to most learners.

Etymology

The word lichgate comes from two old parts: lich meaning 'corpse' and gate meaning 'gate'. So a lichgate was a roofed gateway where a coffin or dead body could rest during a funeral, which is why the name describes its use.