Lib

Abbreviation for various words beginning in lib-.

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1. liberal
2. liberationwomen's lib
3. library

From Middle English libbe, from Old English lybb ("medicine, drug, potion, poison, charm"), from Proto-Germanic *lubją ("wort, herb, drug, poison"), from Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ-, *lewb- ("to peel, break, damage"), from Proto-Indo-European *lew- ("to cut, remove, prune, separate"). Cognate with German Luppe, Lüppe ("salve, ointment, plant juice, medicine, magic"), Icelandic lyf ("medicine, drug").

Full definition of lib

Noun

1. (UK dialectal, Scotland) A potion; magic potion; charm.

From Middle English libben, related to Dutch lubben ("to castrate, emasculate"), Dutch libbe ("a steer"), lubbert ("a eunuch"). Further relation uncertain. Possibly related to Old English *lybbian ("to doctor"), from lybb (see above); or perhaps related to Old English lappa, læppa ("lappet, piece, section, lobe, portion, district"). More at lop.

Verb

1. (transitive, UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To geld; castrate; emasculate (usually said of animals).

Related terms

• glib
• libbert
• libbet

Anagrams

• bil