liver-sickn.
/ˈlɪvəsɪk/, U.S. /ˈlɪvərˌsɪk/ English regional (southern).
A hangnail (hangnail n.) on the finger. Cf. liverage n.2
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > disorders of nails > [noun]
wartwalec1325
flaw1574
liverage1598
pterygium1601
hangnail1678
mormal1685
agnail1737
onychia1814
defluvium1817
onychogryphosis1833
liver-sick1836
ingrowing1852
backfriend1864
onychomycosis1865
white lie1899
koilonychia1902
1836 W. D. Cooper Gloss. Provincialisms Sussex 24 Liversick, a hang-nail on the finger.
1883 W. H. Cope Gloss. Hampshire Words Liversick, a hang-nail; a piece of loose skin on the finger. N[orth] H[ants].
1958 Times 16 Aug. 7/6 She was surprised that the mistress could not understand ‘plain English’—they spoke of ‘hang-nails’ instead of ‘liversicks’.
1967 H. Orton & M. F. Wakelin Surv. Eng. Dial. IV. ii. 701 Loose piece of skin. Q. What do you call this, at the bottom of the nail? [Berkshire, Sussex] Liversick.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
liver-sickadj.
/ˈlɪvəsɪk/, U.S. /ˈlɪvərˌsɪk/ Now rare.
Affected with liver disease. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > glandular disorders > [adjective] > disorders of liver
liver-sickeOE
lapidous1583
liver-shot1618
liver-grown1637
nutmeggy1843
cirrhotic1863
nutmegged1879
tight-lace1880
cirrhosed1886
loaded1897
tight-laced1905
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) ii. xxiv. 212 Wyrce mon to drencum liferseocum mannum merces sæd, diles, wermodes.
?a1200 ( tr. Pseudo-Apuleius Herbarium (Harl. 6258B) cvii. 81 Origanum..wyd nyrwit & lifer-seocum wel fremeð.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball iv. lviii. 520 The rootes..are good for such as be liver sicke.
1597 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 1st 3 Bks. ii. vii. 45 Demon my friend once liuer-sicke of loue.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 26 The liuer dryed with parsely..is marueilous good for one that is liuer sicke.
1677 E. Coles Dict. Eng.-Lat. Liver-sick, jecinorosus.
1995 R. T. Cook in R. R. Watson Alcohol, Drugs of Abuse & Immune Functions 61 Plasma immunoglobulin levels in liver-sick and liver-normal alcoholics.
Derivatives
ˈliver-sickness n.
ΚΠ
?a1200 ( tr. Pseudo-Apuleius Herbarium (Harl. 6258B) cxxviii. 121 Wið lifer-seocnysse..cnuca þeos wyrt to duste.
1776 J. Swaine Every Farmer his own Cattle Doctor 42 For the Liver Sickness.
1896 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 4 July 35/2 The liver-sickness in calves has also received attention at the hands of the director.
1998 D. E. Moerman Native Amer. Ethnobotany 229/1 Compound infusion of roots taken for liver sickness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1836adj.eOE