English
lych-gate
From lich (“corpse”) + gate.
A compound of lich ‘corpse’ + gate
Proto-Indo-European *leyg- ‘to jump around, run around’
Proto-Germanic *līką ‘body’
Proto-West Germanic *līk ‘body’
Old English līċ
Middle English lich ‘a body’
English lich
Proto-Germanic *gatą ‘hole, opening’
Proto-West Germanic *gat ‘opening, gate’
Old English ġeat ‘gate, door’
Middle English gate ‘gate’
English gate
Today it means
noun A churchyard gateway with a roof, under which a corpse was laid during a funeral to await the arrival of the clergyman.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / lych-gate