lich stone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very rare, archaicTechnical/Historical, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “lich stone” mean?
A stone slab or table used historically as a resting place for a coffin in a church or churchyard before burial.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A stone slab or table used historically as a resting place for a coffin in a church or churchyard before burial.
Historically, a flat stone, often found near the entrance of a church, on which a corpse in its coffin was placed during the funeral service or while awaiting burial. Some are now used as decorative or commemorative stones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is of British origin. In American English, the concept is largely unknown unless in specialist historical or architectural contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries strong historical and ecclesiastical connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both, but marginally more likely to be encountered in UK historical texts or church guides.
Grammar
How to Use “lich stone” in a Sentence
The [adjective] lich stone stands/stood [location].They placed the coffin on the lich stone.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, archaeological, or architectural studies of medieval/post-medieval church history.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
A precise term in church architecture and funerary history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lich stone”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lich stone”
- Using it as a synonym for 'tombstone' or 'gravestone'.
- Capitalising it as a proper noun (unless part of a specific name, e.g., 'the Lich Stone at St. Mary's').
- Using it in a modern, non-historical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A gravestone marks a burial place. A lich stone was used to support the coffin *before* burial, often during the funeral service.
Historically, at the entrance to a churchyard or just inside the church porch.
Yes. Both come from the Old English word 'līc' meaning corpse. A lychgate is the roofed gate at a churchyard where the coffin and mourners might gather, often near the lich stone.
No. It is an archaic, specialised term used mainly by historians, archaeologists, and those interested in church architecture.
A stone slab or table used historically as a resting place for a coffin in a church or churchyard before burial.
Lich stone is usually technical/historical, archaic in register.
Lich stone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪtʃ ˌstəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪtʃ ˌstoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'LITCH' (sounds like 'witch') using a stone for a spell, but this stone is for a 'lich' (corpse).
Conceptual Metaphor
STONE AS A TRANSITIONAL BOUNDARY (between the church and the grave, the living and the dead).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a lich stone?