Skip to content

leech

noun

  1. in computing, one who benefits from others information or effort, but does not give in return
  2. subclass of worms
L24008 on Wikidata ↗

verb

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L332127 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈliːt͡ʃ/ / [ˈlɪi̯t͡ʃ]

name

Etymology: * As an English surname, variant of Leach. * As an Irish surname, from Liaigh (“physician”) (a calque of the English surname) or Ó Laoghóg (“descendant of Laoghóg”) and Ó Maolmhaodhóg (“descendant of Maolmhaodhóg”); see Logue.

  1. A surname originating as an occupation, derived from the profession leech, a former word for a physician.

noun

Etymology: 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).

  1. The vertical edge of a square sail.

    To help combat these problems, almost all sailmakers trim the leeches of their headsails to a hollow or concave profile and enclose a LEECHLINE within the leech tabling.

  2. The aft edge of a triangular sail.

    Trim the leech of the jib parallel to the main by watching the slot between the mainsail and the jib.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English lechen (“to cure, heal, treat”), from Middle English leche (“doctor, physician”). Compare Swedish läka (“to heal”).

  1. 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.