lidden

English

Etymology

From earlier leaden, ledden, leden, from Middle English leden, liden, lyden, from Old English lēoden, lȳden (“speech, language”), related to Scots leid (“language”). See leid.

Alternative etymology derives lidden from Old English hlȳd, hlȳden (“sound, noise, clamour, din”) or Old Norse hljóð (“sound, clap, roar, ringing, tone, tune”). Compare also Old English lēoþ (“song, tune, poem”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪdən

Noun

lidden (plural liddens)

1. (archaic) A noise or din.
2. (archaic, dialectal) A saying, song or story.
   • 1905, Arthur Quiller-Couch, “Frenchman's Creek”, in Shakespeare's Christmas and other stories:

     She kept up this lidden all through breakfast, and the meal was no sooner cleared away than she slipped on a shawl and stepped across to the churchyard to discuss the robbery.

Anagrams

• dindle