lych-gate

noun

ˈlich-ˌgāt 

variants or less commonly lich-gate

: a roofed gate in a churchyard under which a bier rests during the initial part of the burial service

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lycheyate, from lich body, corpse (from Old English līc) + gate, yate gate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above