lych-gate

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a roofed gateway to a churchyard where a coffin traditionally rested before a funeral service

   The mourners paused beneath the lych-gate before entering the churchyard.

From Middle English lich or lych 'corpse' and gate. The first element descends from Old English lic 'body, corpse.' The roofed entrance traditionally sheltered the coffin and mourners while they awaited the clergyman.

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