Lip service

Lip Lip (l[i^]p), n. [OE. lippe, AS. lippa; akin to D. lip, G. lippe, lefze, OHG. lefs, Dan. l[ae]be, Sw. l["a]pp, L. labium, labrum. Cf. {Labial}.] 1. One of the two fleshy folds which surround the orifice of the mouth in man and many other animals. In man the lips are organs of speech essential to certain articulations. Hence, by a figure they denote the mouth, or all the organs of speech, and sometimes speech itself. [1913 Webster]

Thine own lips testify against thee. --Job xv. 6. [1913 Webster]

2. An edge of an opening; a thin projecting part of anything; a kind of short open spout; as, the lip of a vessel. [1913 Webster]

3. The sharp cutting edge on the end of an auger. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) (a) One of the two opposite divisions of a labiate corolla. (b) The odd and peculiar petal in the {Orchis} family. See {Orchidaceous}. [1913 Webster]

5. (Zo["o]l.) One of the edges of the aperture of a univalve shell. [1913 Webster]

6. Impudent or abusive talk; as, don't give me any of your lip. [Slang]

Syn: jaw. [1913 Webster]

{Lip bit}, a pod auger. See {Auger}.

{Lip comfort}, comfort that is given with words only.

{Lip comforter}, one who comforts with words only.

{Lip labor}, unfelt or insincere speech; hypocrisy. --Bale.

{Lip reading}, the catching of the words or meaning of one speaking by watching the motion of his lips without hearing his voice. --Carpenter.

{Lip salve}, a salve for sore lips.

{Lip service}, expression by the lips of obedience and devotion without the performance of acts suitable to such sentiments.

{Lip wisdom}, wise talk without practice, or unsupported by experience.

{Lip work}. (a) Talk. (b) Kissing. [Humorous] --B. Jonson.

{To make a lip}, to drop the under lip in sullenness or contempt. --Shak.

{To shoot out the lip} (Script.), to show contempt by protruding the lip. [1913 Webster]