lid
UK[lɪd]US[lɪd]
n
A removable or hinged cover for the top of a container.
n
An eyelid.
Etymology
The word 'lid' originates from the Old English 'hlid', meaning a cover, door, or gate, which itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic hlid-. This Germanic root is further traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root klī-, meaning 'to lean' or 'to incline', a concept related to a cover that leans over or rests upon an opening. The semantic journey moved from the general idea of a barrier or cover for an opening to its specific modern application as a top for a container. The parallel development of the word for 'eyelid' (from Old English 'ēaghlid') demonstrates the same core logic of a protective cover that opens and closes.
Analysis
The word 'lid' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
She screwed the lid back onto the jar tightly.
He gently lifted the lid of the wooden chest to see what was inside.
The surgeon made a small incision along the upper eyelid.