I. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from gerund of licken to lick — more at lick
1. : the act of one that licks (as by lapping with the tongue)
2.
a. : a sound thrashing : a beating at the hands of another : drubbing
when I was cornered and fought, even a licking wasn't a hundredth as bad as I thought it would be — John Reed
b. : a severe setback : defeat
American industries competing with import industries took their licking — A.H.Hansen
in the long run … apathetic voters would take the licking — Time
3. : the act or process of taking the lap from the feed roller in a carding machine by the licker-in
II. adverb
Etymology: from present participle of lick (to hit)
dialect : exceedingly
a licking big frame of light wood — Eden Phillpotts
eaten with a spoon … I only remember that it was — and is — licking good — Della Lutes