lib

Etymology 1

Abbreviation for various words beginning in lib-.

noun

1. liberal
   own the libs
2. liberation
   women's lib
3. library
4. libertarian

Etymology 2

From Middle English libbe, from Old English lybb, lyb (“medicine, drug, potion, poison, charm”), from Proto-West Germanic *lubi, 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”).

noun

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

Etymology 3

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).