lych gate

British  

/ lɪtʃ /

noun

1. a roofed gate to a churchyard, formerly used during funerals as a temporary shelter for the bier

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Etymology

Origin of lych gate

C15: lich, from Old English līc corpse

Example Sentences

As he was passing by the Church he noticed an old man, very poorly dressed in an old grey coat with the collar turned up, leaning over the lych gate, in floods of tears.

From Eminent Victorians by Strachey, Giles Lytton

I've been thinking," at length said Matthew, "that it's ten years since you and I, sir, and Mr. Acres, met at the old lych gate in that terrible storm.

From Stones of the Temple Lessons from the Fabric and Furniture of the Church by Field, Walter

Another relic of this time is the panel of carved oak in the lych gate of St. Giles', Bloomsbury, dated 1638.

From Illustrated History of Furniture From the Earliest to the Present Time by Litchfield, Frederick

The bells of the village church were ringing out for the service, and groups of two and three were passing in at the old lych gate.

From Teddy's Button by Le Feuvre, Amy

It had a typical country churchyard, with a large yew tree inside the old lych gate.

From The Carved Cupboard by Le Feuvre, Amy