leech
pronunciation
How to pronounce leech in British English:
UK [li:tʃ]
How to pronounce leech in American English:
US [litʃ]
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- Noun:
- carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end
- a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
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- Verb:
- draw blood
Word Origin
- leech (n.1)
- "bloodsucking aquatic worm," from Old English læce (Kentish lyce), of unknown origin (with a cognate in Middle Dutch lake). Commonly regarded as a transferred use of leech (n.2), but the Old English forms suggest a distinct word, which has been assimilated to leech (n.2) by folk etymology [see OED]. Figuratively applied to human parasites since 1784.
- leech (n.2)
- obsolete for "physician," from Old English læce, probably from Old Danish læke, from Proto-Germanic *lekjaz "enchanter, one who speaks magic words; healer, physician" (cognates: Old Frisian letza, Old Saxon laki, Old Norse læknir, Old High German lahhi, Gothic lekeis "physician"), literally "one who counsels," perhaps connected with a root found in Celtic (compare Irish liaig "charmer, exorcist, physician") and Slavic (compare Serbo-Croatian lijekar, Polish lekarz), from PIE *lep-agi "conjurer," from root *leg- "to collect," with derivatives meaning "to speak" (see lecture (n.)). For sense development, compare Old Church Slavonic baliji "doctor," originally "conjurer," related to Serbo-Croatian bajati "enchant, conjure;" Old Church Slavonic vrači, Russian vrač "doctor," related to Serbo-Croatian vrač "sorcerer, fortune-teller." The form merged with leech (n.1) in Middle English, apparently by folk etymology. In 17c., leech usually was applied only to veterinary practitioners. The fourth finger of the hand, in Old English, was læcfinger, translating Latin digitus medicus, Greek daktylus iatrikos, supposedly because a vein from that finger stretches straight to the heart.
Example
- 1. The leech stands the photo session with dignity .
- 2. They add leech saliva into their cosmetics .
- 3. The bloodletting may last from 10 minutes to 1 hour and after the leech is full it will fall off by itself .
- 4. In the photograph you see a leech model and tools to extract its saliva .
- 5. Apart from the saliva , they add the leech itself into their cosmetics .