Etymology

See discussion of lygez. Goll accepts the MS reading <lygyngeʒ> and compares the ON v. liggja (cp. liggja ' to lie'), but EVG (935n) argues that a n. derived from liggja would not refer to a stout, permanent structure (see further discussion by text). However, the MS reading is contested (see discussion by text).

PGmc Ancestor

*legjan-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

liggja (v.) ' to lie'
(ONP liggja (vb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far liggja, Icel liggja, Norw liggja, Dan ligge, Sw ligga

OE Cognate

licgan (v.) 'to lie'

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

DD2ac

Attestation

MED otherwise has citations of what it interprets as a gerund in its sense (2a) 'dwelling place, encampment, ?living conditions' from Cursor and a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193). See also lygez

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Pe 935

While Goll, Osgood and Hillman maintain the MS reading, EVG (followed by subsequent editors) emends MS <lygyngeʒ> to the more common (and thus he argues more plausible) bygyngeʒ (see bygyng) due to the sense in context (see Etymological Discussion) and posits scribal confusion of b and l. Vant argues (as similarly with other readings) bygyngeʒ may actually be the MS reading, with the loop completing the b being faded, squeezed against the y or not made clearly. 

Bibliography

MED līing(e (ger.(1)) ; MED līen (v.1) , OED lie (v.1) , Dance lygez, de Vries liggja, Mag. liggja, Bj-L. ligge, Seebold leg-ja-, Orel *leʒjanan, Kroonen *leg(j)an-, AEW licgan