leg

leg
\ \ [13] Shank was the word used in Old English for ‘leg’. Not until the late 13th was leg acquired, from Old Norse leggr. It goes back to a prehistoric Germanic *lagjaz, which may ultimately come from a source that meant ‘bend’. No other Germanic language any longer uses it for ‘leg’, but Swedish and Danish retain lägg and læg respectively for ‘calf’.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Leg — (l[e^]g), n. [Icel. leggr; akin to Dan. l[ae]g calf of the leg, Sw. l[ a]gg.] 1. A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the body, and in running, climbing, and swimming; esp., that part of the limb between the knee and foot. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • leg — [leg] n. [ME < ON leggr, a leg, limb < IE base * lek , limb > L lacertus, muscle, lacerta, lizard] 1. one of the parts of the body by means of which animals stand and walk, specif., in human beings, a) one of the lower limbs b) Anat. the …   English World dictionary

  • leg — ► NOUN 1) each of the limbs on which a person or animal moves and stands. 2) a long, thin support or prop, especially of a chair or table. 3) a section of a journey, process, or race. 4) (in sport) each of two or more games or stages constituting …   English terms dictionary

  • leg*/*/*/ — [leg] noun [C] 1) one of the parts of a person s or animal s body to which the feet are attached an exercise to strengthen the leg muscles[/ex] She sat down and crossed her legs.[/ex] 2) the part of a piece of clothing that covers one of your… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • legʷh- —     legʷh     English meaning: light (adj.)     Deutsche Übersetzung: “leicht in Bewegung and Gewicht”, verbal ‘sich leicht, flink bewegen”     Note: nasalized lengʷh     Material: 1. O.Ind. laghu , ved. raghu “rash, hasty, light, small”, compar …   Proto-Indo-European etymological dictionary

  • Leg — * Lêg, er, este, oder Lêge, r, ste, adj. et adv. welches nur in einigen gemeinen Mundarten üblich ist, wo es eigentlich niedrig bedeutet, in welchem Verstande es vorzüglich im Niederdeutschen vorkommt. Das Wasser ist leg, niedrig. Leges Wasser… …   Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der Hochdeutschen Mundart

  • leg-1 —     leg 1     English meaning: to drip, ooze, flow out     Deutsche Übersetzung: “tröpfeln, sickern, zergehen”     Material: Arm. lič ‘swamp, marsh” (*lēgi̯ ü); O.Ir. legaim “löse mich auf, zergehe, schmelze”, fo llega “(die ink) running from”,… …   Proto-Indo-European etymological dictionary

  • leĝ- —     leĝ     English meaning: to gather     Deutsche Übersetzung: “zusammenlesen, sammeln”     Material: Gk. λέγω ‘sammle, lese together, zähle, rede, say”, καταλέγω “verzeichne”, συλλογή ‘sammlung”, ἐκλογή “Auswahl”, λόγος, λέξις “ discourse “,… …   Proto-Indo-European etymological dictionary

  • Leg — (l[e^]g), v. t. To use as a leg, with it as object: (a) To bow. [Obs.] (b) To run. [Low] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • leg. — leg. 〈Abk. für ital.〉 legato * * * leg. = ↑ legato. * * * leg. = legato …   Universal-Lexikon

  • leg-up — leg ,up noun singular 1. ) INFORMAL if you give someone a leg up, you help them to make progress, especially in their career 2. ) if you give someone a leg up, you help them climb something by letting them put their foot in your hands and then… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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