Lookee here

I was wondering about the informal phrase 'Lookee here'. I'm not sure if it's ever used in the US, but you hear it sometimes in the UK. Of course it isn't 'proper' English so to speak, but it occurred to me that it is interesting because it can only be used in the imperative. You would never hear, for example, 'You lookee like him'. I wonder if it comes from 'Look ye here' but still its usage is grammatically marked, even if it is only a kind of slang form.

What do others think?

It's definitely used here in the US, and it's spelled "lookie here" as well... it sounds Southern to me, but that could just be a stereotype and it's certainly heard elsewhere as well. You're right, it's a curious construction. "Look ye here" sounds plausible to me, but it could just as easily be a baby-talk expression originally used with young children.

- Kef

But if it's a baby-talk expression, why isn't it used with any other verbs?

Although it can only be used in conjunction with 'here', can't it. You wouldn't hear 'Lookie at that'.