leech

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈliːt͡ʃ/, [ˈlɪi̯t͡ʃ] Rhymes: -iːtʃ Hyphenation: leech Homophone: leach === Etymology 1 === From Middle English leche (“blood-sucking worm”), from Old English lǣċe (“blood-sucking worm”), akin to Middle Dutch lāke ("blood-sucking worm"; > modern Dutch laak). ==== Noun ==== leech (plural leeches) A typically aquatic blood-sucking annelid of the subclass Hirudinea, especially Hirudo medicinalis. (figuratively) A person who derives advantage from others in a parasitic fashion. (medicine, dated) A glass tube designed for drawing blood from damaged tissue by means of a vacuum. ===== Synonyms ===== (person who lives as a parasite): parasite, sponger, bloodsucker, vampire; See also Thesaurus:scrounger ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== leech (third-person singular simple present leeches, present participle leeching, simple past and past participle leeched) (transitive, literally) To apply a leech medicinally, so that it sucks blood from the patient. (transitive, figuratively) To drain (resources) without giving back. Near-synonyms: mooch, suck down ===== Usage notes ===== Not to be confused with the verb leach. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== References ==== “leech”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Etymology 2 === From Middle English leche (“physician”), from Old English lǣċe (“doctor, physician”), from Proto-West Germanic *lākī, from Proto-Germanic *lēkijaz (“doctor”), of disputed origin, but usually thought to be connected with Proto-Celtic (compare Old Irish líaig (“doctor, physician”)); perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to collect, gather”). Cognate with Old Frisian lētza (“physician”), Old Saxon lāki (“physician”), Old High German lāhhi (“doctor, healer”), Danish læge (“doctor, surgeon”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍃 (lēkeis, “physician”). Slavic words such as Serbo-Croatian ljèkār, Polish lekarz (“physician, doctor”) are usually considered to be borrowings from Germanic. ==== Noun ==== leech (plural leeches) (archaic) A physician. 1610, Bolton, Armoriesː As if an expert leech must needs be expert in the physicks (that is, in those speculations which concerne the workes of nature) the nearest word to fall with our tongue, yet not farre from the thing, was physitian. (Germanic paganism) A healer. 1996, Swain Wodening, “Scandinavian Craft Lesson 6: Runic Divination”, Theod Magazine 3 (4) In ancient times runesters were a specialized class separate from that of the witch or ordinary spell caster (much as the other specialists such as the leech or healer and the seithkona were different from a witch), and even today many believe it takes years of training to become adept at using the runes in spell work. ===== Synonyms ===== (physician): barber, doctor, physician (healer in Heathenry): healer ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 3 === From Middle English lechen (“to cure, heal, treat”), from Middle English leche (“doctor, physician”). Compare Swedish läka (“to heal”). ==== Verb ==== leech (third-person singular simple present leeches, present participle leeching, simple past and past participle leeched) (archaic, rare) To treat, cure or heal. 1564, Accounts of Louth Corporalː Paid for leeching.. my horses very sick. 1566–74, Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotlandː To one man (that) broke his leg in Strivelin … Item to the man that leecheth him. 1850, Blackieː A disease that none may leech. ===== Synonyms ===== (make better): treat, cure, heal ===== Derived terms ===== ===== References ===== NED === Etymology 4 === From Middle English lek, leche, lyche, from Old Norse lík (“leechline”), from Proto-West Germanic *līk, from Proto-Germanic *līką (compare West Frisian lyk (“band”), Dutch lijk (“boltrope”), Middle High German geleich (“joint, limb”)), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- ‘to bind’ (compare Latin ligō (“tie, bind”), Ukrainian нали́гати (nalýhaty, “to bridle, fetter”), Albanian lidh (“to bind”), Hittite link- (caus. linganu-) ‘to swear’ (with -n- infix). ==== Noun ==== leech (plural leeches) (nautical) The vertical edge of a square sail. (nautical) The aft edge of a triangular sail. ===== Derived terms ===== leech line / leechline ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== Sail components on Wikipedia.Wikipedia foot luff ==== References ==== “leech”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Anagrams === leceh, leche, chele, Elche == Central Franconian == === Alternative forms === leich (Kölsch), liëht, leht (western Ripuarian) licht, liecht (northern Moselle Franconian), lechte (Siegerland) leicht (southern Moselle Franconian) === Etymology === From Middle High German līht, from Proto-Germanic *linhtaz. The form shows shortening before -ht followed by later lengthening in the same position (cf. the same in Luxembourgish liicht). The Colognian form leich is probably influenced by Standard German (reinforced by analogy with words where Colognian has -ei- for other Ripuarian -ee-, from Middle High German -ei-). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /leːɕ/ Homophone: Leech === Adjective === leech (masculine leechte, feminine and plural leechte or leech, comparative leechter, superlative et leechste) (central and eastern Ripuarian) light, not heavy easy, not difficult ==== Inflection ==== == West Frisian == === Etymology 1 === From Old Frisian lēch, from Proto-Germanic *lēgaz, *lēgijaz. Cognate with English low, Scots laigh, Low German leeg, Dutch laag. ==== Adjective ==== leech low ===== Inflection ===== ===== Further reading ===== “leech (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011 === Etymology 2 === From Old Frisian lethich, from Proto-Germanic *liþugaz. Cognate with English lithy, Low German leddig, Dutch leeg, German ledig. ==== Adjective ==== leech empty ===== Inflection ===== ===== Further reading ===== “leech (III)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011 == Yola == === Alternative forms === leache === Etymology === From Middle English læche, from Old English lǣċe, from Proto-West Germanic *lākī. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /lɛːt͡ʃ/ === Noun === leech physician === References === Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 52