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(lch), n.See 2d Leach. Leech v. t.See Leach, v. t. Leech n.[Cf. LG. leik, Icel. lk, Sw. lik boltrope, stende liken the leeches.] (Naut.) The border or edge at the side of a sail. [Written also leach.] Leech line, a line attached to the leech ropes of sails, passing up through blocks on the yards, to haul the leeches by. Totten. Leech rope, that part of the boltrope to which the side of a sail is sewed. Leech n.[OE. leche, lche, physician, AS. lce; akin to Fries. ltza, OHG. lhh, Icel. lknari, Sw. lkare, Dan. lge, Goth. lkeis, AS. lcnian to heal, Sw. lka, Dan. lge, Icel. lkna, Goth. lkinn.] 1. A physician or surgeon; a professor of the art of healing. [Written also leach.] [Archaic] Spenser. Leech, heal thyself. Wyclif (Luke iv. 23). 2. (Zol.) Any one of numerous genera and species of annulose worms, belonging to the order Hirudinea, or Bdelloidea, esp. those species used in medicine, as Hirudo medicinalis of Europe, and allied species. In the mouth of bloodsucking leeches are three convergent, serrated jaws, moved by strong muscles. By the motion of these jaws a stellate incision is made in the skin, through which the leech sucks blood till it is gorged, and then drops off. The stomach has large pouches on each side to hold the blood. The common large bloodsucking leech of America (Macrobdella decora) is dark olive above, and red below, with black spots. Leech v. t.[imp. & p. p.Leeched (lcht); p. pr. & vb. n.Leeching.] 1. To treat as a surgeon; to doctor; as, to leech wounds. [Archaic] 2. To bleed by the use of leeches. スポンサード リンク
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