lye

Etymology 1

From Middle English leye, lye, from Old English lēah, lēag (“lye”), from Proto-West Germanic *laugu, from Proto-Germanic *laugō, from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃- (“to wash”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Loge, Looie (“lye”), Dutch loog (“lye”), German Low German Loge, Loje, Loog (“lye”), German Lauge (“lye”).

noun

1. An alkaline liquid made by leaching ashes (usually wood ashes).
2. Potassium or sodium hydroxide (caustic soda).
   She had not left the lye in too long so that the hair would fall out in clumps later. 2019, Namwali Serpell, The Old Drift, Hogarth, page 372

verb

1. To treat with lye.

Etymology 2

Variant of lie (“to rest horizontally”) now used in a specialised sense; compare sett.

verb

1. Obsolete spelling of lie.
   Now negligent of sports I lye, And now as other Fawkners use, I spring a mistresse, sweare, write, sigh and weepe: 1654, John Donne, Loves Diet

noun

1. Obsolete spelling of lie
2. (UK, rail transport) A short side line, connected with the main line; a turn-out; a siding.
   Brakevan lye. [same page in the main text] There is also an inclined lye for brakevans at each end of the yard. 1962 October, G. Freeman Allen, “The New Look in Scotland's Northern Division—II: The new Perth marshalling yard”, in Modern Railways, page 273, photo caption with indicating arrow