legn.

Brit.

/lɛɡ/, U.S.

/lɛɡ/

Forms: Middle English leggue, Middle English leghe, Middle English leyg, Middle English lige, Middle English lyg, Middle English–1600s lege, Middle English–1600s legge, Middle English–1700s legg, Middle English– leg, 1500s leige; also Scottish pre-1700 lag, pre-1700 lige, pre-1700 ligge, pre-1700 lyg, pre-1700 lyge, pre-1700 1900s– laig, pre-1700 (1900s– north-eastern) leig, 1700s lage, 1700s leag, 1800s league (north-eastern), 1800s– leeg, 1800s liag (north-eastern), 1900s– lig, 1900s– (north-eastern) lyag; U.S. regional (chiefly southern and south Midland) 1800s– laig, 1900s– lag.

Origin: A borrowing from early Scandinavian.

Etymology: < early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic leggr leg, (in compounds) limb, extremity (Icelandic leggur calf of the leg), Old Swedish lägger leg (Swedish lägg calf of the leg), Old Danish leg , læg calf of the leg (Danish læg )), apparently < the same Indo-European base as Langobardic lagi thigh, probably < the same Indo-European base as Greek λακτίζειν to kick, classical Latin lacertus arm. The continental West Germanic languages, as well as the modern Scandinavian languages, use cognates of bone n.¹ to denote the lower limb of the human body.Specific senses. In sense 3a after the corresponding use of Anglo-Norman jaumbe, Anglo-Norman and Middle French jambe leg (see jamb n.); compare gamb n. In sense 3b short for leg dollar n. at Compounds 2a. In sense 11 ultimately after the corresponding use of ancient Greek σκέλος (see scelides n.). Although quot. 1864 at sense 16 appears to suggest an Italian model for the specific use in lacemaking, no supporting evidence for this suggestion has been found, and dictionaries of Italian do not record either gamba leg (see jamb n.) nor any of its derivatives in a similar sense. In sense 19 short for blackleg n. In legs eleven n. at Compounds 2a, and hence in sense 17, apparently with allusion to the resemblance of the number 11 to the shape of a pair of legs. Use as surname. Earlier currency appears to be implied by use as surname (frequent from the second half of the 12th cent.), e.g. Edwardus Leg (1168), John Leg (1221), Nicholaus Legge (1294), etc.

I. The lower limb of the human body, and related senses.

a. The lower limb of the human body, or the part of the lower limb between the hip and the ankle. Also spec. (Anatomy): the part of the lower limb between the knee and the ankle (in ordinary use called the lower leg, the part from the hip to the knee being distinguished as the thigh or upper leg).

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > leg > [noun]

shanka900

legc1300

grainsa1400

limbc1400

foot?a1425

stumpa1500

pin?1515

pestlea1529

boughc1550

stamp1567

understander1583

pile1584

supporters1601

walker?1611

trestle1612

fetlock1645

pedestal1695

drumstick1770

gam1785

timber1807

tram1808–18

fork1812

prop1817

nethers1822

forkals1828

understanding1828

stick1830

nether person1835

locomotive1836

nether man1846

underpinning1848

bender1849

Scotch peg1857

Scotch1859

under-pinner1859

stem1860

Coryate's compasses1864

peg1891

wheel1927

shaft1935

c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 940 Hii soten hire legges [c1275 Calig. sconken].

c1300 St. Cuthbert (Laud) l. 50 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 360 (MED) He bi-heold and handlede þane sore leg ase þei he leche were.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 1807 Darrie from hym þe table shett, Þat it wendeþ in þe flett; He þroweþ legges [a1425 Linc. Inn drawiþ leg] ouere oþer, And makeþ þretynges.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 5473 Wormes As large as a mans lege.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 238/2 Legge fro the kne to the fote.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 115^v If wee assaye to take vp a thing from the ground, stryding, and not with our legges together, wee take it vp with more ease and strength.

1611 C. Tourneur Atheist's Trag. (new ed.) ii. sig. E4^v My legge is not goutie.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 512 His Leggs entwining Each other..down he fell A monstrous Serpent.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 91. ⁋4 He ran over, with a laughing Eye, Crastin's thin Legs, meagre Looks, and spare Body.

1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World ii. 58 My third Lieutenant, broke his leg by a slide on the deck.

1833 Atkinson's Casket Feb. 69/2 The tailor sat on the bench, with his legs akimbo.

1864 Ld. Tennyson Grandmother iii, in Enoch Arden, etc. 115 ‘Here's a leg for a babe of a week!’ says doctor.

1914 Independent (N.Y.) 19 Jan. 105/1 We have pictures of the battlefield..and the dolorous year-long waiting in the hospital bed for the mending arm or leg.

1954 K. B. Roberts in H. W. Florey Lect. Gen. Pathol. xxxiii. 620 Milroy's disease..affects one or both legs, appears at birth or in childhood and last throughout life.

2014 Hot 1 Mar. 16/1 Uh-oh, it appears not everyone is a fan of the Duchess of Cambridge's toned legs.

b. spec. In plural, with reference to the use of the legs (sense 1a) in standing, walking, running, etc. Cf. leg v. 1. See also specific phrases in the Phrases section, e.g. to keep one's legs at Phrases 3h, to take (also †betake) (†oneself) to one's legs at Phrases 3l.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports

staffc1000

hold1042

source1359

legc1380

shorer1393

stabilimenta1398

upholder1398

sustentationa1400

undersetterc1400

bearinga1425

undersettinga1425

suppowellc1430

triclinec1440

sustentaclec1451

supportera1475

sustainerc1475

sustenal1483

stayc1515

buttress1535

underpinning1538

firmament1554

countenance1565

support1570

appuia1573

comfort1577

hypostasis1577

underpropping1586

porter1591

supportation1593

supportance1597

understaya1603

bearer1607

rest1609

upsetter1628

mountinga1630

sustent1664

underlay1683

holdfast1706

abutment1727

suppeditor1728

mount1739

monture1746

bed1793

appoggiatura1833

bracing1849

bench1850

under-pinner1859

bolster-piece1860

sustainer1873

table mount1923

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1369 By þe legges lifte he þe schrewe þan & schef hur out ech del.

c1450 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 72 And at revell for to se yow hoppe, Ys joy y-now so ye your lyggys streyne.

1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour ii. xii. sig. T He was inforced to kepe his bedde, beinge for lacke of slepe and other naturall sustenaunce: brought in suche feblenesse, that his legges mougt nat sustayne his body.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. ii. 5 Vse your legges, take the start, runne away.

1640 R. Brome Antipodes sig. C3 Doct. Mandevile went farre. Per. Beyond all English legges that I can read of.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. vii. vii. 51 I thank Heaven my Legs are very able to carry me.

1847 G. P. R. James John Marston Hall ix Some of them fled as fast as their legs would carry them.

1867 S. W. Baker Nile Tributaries Abyssinia xi. 287 He would rather trust to his legs.

1934 Scotsman 29 May 14 The first bullet whistled past Bateman and the second one got me. I felt a sharp stinging pain, and somehow my legs gave way beneath me.

2011 Times (Nexis) 9 May 41 My wife and I took our eldest son to the playground this week and saw a toddler there who seemed unsteady on his legs.

c. Each of the organs of support and locomotion in an animal body, as any of the limbs of a quadruped, either of the hind limbs of a bird, or any of the locomotory appendages of an arthropod.The limbs of a quadruped may be distinguished as forelegs and hindlegs.

ΚΠ

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xii. xxv. 633 Locusta..haþ longe legges... And here hinder legges beþ longer þan here furþere legges.

a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) l. 3769 (MED) Sire Brytric hadde a gode horse..& for he was ȝong, & bothe wylde & leyȝt, He hadde y-fedryde to-gedur his leygus two.

c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f.83^v (MED) Waische his heed wiþ þe watir in þe whiche þe feet and þe leggis of a weþir ben soden.

1522 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/4) For the dyner of iij men that holp slyng and lyft the cow that broke her legg.

1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus iv. ii. 101 All the water in the Ocean, Can neuer turne the swans blacke legs to white.

1649 Perfect Occurr. Parl. No. 142. 1267 One browne Mare with a starre in her fore-head, three white feet, splinters on both legges, trots altogether.

1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 122 Crustaceous..having generally eight legs, besides..two or more annulated horns or feelers.

1752 Philos. Trans. 1749–50 (Royal Soc.) 46 538 A Bee loading the Farina, Bee-Bread, or crude Wax, upon its Legs.

1773 G. White Let. 9 Dec. in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 164 The black-faced poll-sheep have the shortest legs.

1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xix. 190 ‘What's the matter with the dogs' legs?’ whispered Mr. Winkle.

1896 A. Newton et al. Dict. Birds: Pt. IV at Stork Its contrasted plumage..with its bright red bill and legs, makes it a conspicuous and beautiful object.

1925 N. Dyalhis in Weird Tales Apr. 6/2 As I blundered full upon the monstrosity it upheaved its ugly bulk—how I do not know, for I saw no legs nor did it have wings.

1971 R. F. Harwood in R. E. Pfadt Fund. Appl. Entomol. (ed. 2) ii. 37 Insect legs are constructed on a basic plan derived from seven segments, with only five clearly apparent.

2012 Your Chickens Apr. 47/3 Its powerful bone structure and well-muscled body and legs..make it an impressive and striking bird.

d. figurative and in figurative contexts, typically with reference to something acting as a support. Frequently in established phrases, e.g. not to have a leg to stand on at Phrases 3g(a), to fall on one's legs at Phrases 1f. Cf. sense 13.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > [noun] > that which supports or encourages

leg1635

confortatorya1680

1577 J. Grange Golden Aphroditis sig. D.iij The onely sounde of trumpe & drumme..inforced him to sette the best legge forewarde.

1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 15 Buyenge and sellinge is one of the leggs whervpon euery common welthe dothe stand.

1635 F. Quarles Emblemes iv. iii. 193 The sprightly voice of sinew-strengthning Pleasure Can lend my bedrid soule both legs and leisure.

1663 Hactenus Inaudita 9 Recourse must be had to a true Son of the Art, who walks the Via Regia on the Legs of Reason and Experience..and knows how to make use of the Crutch of Analogisme.

1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Baucis & Philemon in Fables 160 They haste, and what their tardy Feet deny'd, The trusty Staff (their better Leg) supply'd.

1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 561 One leg by truth supported, one by lies, They sidle to the goal.

1885 Central Law Jrnl. 27 Nov. 446/1 The judiciary in this country is a sort of ball and chain fastened to the legislative leg.

1892 Ohio Pract. Farmer 26 Mar. 240/2 Too many of them [sc. farmers] have been ‘one-legged walkers,’ and they have not exercised their political leg for so long a time it had become sweenied and almost useless.

1937 C. Morris Logical Positivism v. 67 Science has integrated and utilized all of the dimensions of meaning, and may be said to walk on the three legs of theory, fact, and practice.

1956 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. 119 182 There are two legs supporting this claim: (i) theory, (ii) facts.

2003 Southwestern Hist. Q. 107 357 Victoria Turner's Dreams, Fields, and Metaphors, an important theoretical leg of Anderson's work.

2. The leg or part of the leg of an animal or bird used as food; meat from the leg of an animal or bird.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > part or joint of animal > [noun] > leg or thigh

pestlea1425

leg?c1425

gigot1526

gybot1597

ham1650

leg joint1825

skinka1918

?c1425 Recipe in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (Arun. 334) (1790) 453 (MED) Take moton of the legge, and seth hit tendur bi hitself.

a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xii. 115 Here is to recorde The leg of a goys With chekyns endorde.

1541 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) ii. i. 16 b Biefe is better digested than a chykens [sic] legge.

a1625 J. Fletcher Bonduca ii. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Gggg3^v/1 What say you to a leg of Beef now, sirha?

a1654 A. Ross Πανσεβεια (1655) i. 36 In another dish is a roasted leg of Lamb or Kid, with an hard egge.

1733 V. La Chapelle Mod. Cook II. iii. 124 A bit of Leg of Veal.

1786 J. Wolcot Bozzy & Piozzi 28 Dear Doctor Johnson lov'd a leg of pork, And hearty on it, would his grinders work.

1786 H. L. Piozzi Anecd. Johnson 102 Johnson's own notions about eating however were nothing less than delicate; a leg of pork boiled till it dropped from the bone.

1854 Tait's Edinb. Mag. Oct. 623/2 Three or four pounds of leg of beef will suffice for the meals of a whole week.

1941 Times 2 Oct. 5/4 People who out of pure wantonness throw away loaves of bread or even legs of mutton, and are very properly fined for it.

2012 S. Rexford Suzanne's Kitchen 343 Turkey breasts (white meat) cook faster than turkey legs and thighs (dark meat).

a. A heraldic representation of a leg. Cf. gamb n., paw n.¹ 1c.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > representations of human or divine beings > [noun] > leg

legc1460

c1460 Bk. Arms in Ancestor (1903) Apr. 182 (MED) Port de goulys tres jaumbis inne sayle eprone dore. The leggys sylvyr, the sporrys and the kneys golde. The armys of the Ile of Man.

c1500 Sc. Poem Heraldry (Harl. 6149) l. 168 in F. J. Furnivall Queene Elizabethes Achademy (1869) i. 100 Thire be also raschit, as lege or heid.

1680 G. Mackenzie Sci. Herauldry xix. 54 Gules, on a fess betwixt a bow and arrow in full draught in Chief, and three legs couped at the thigh in base argent.

1725 J. Coats New Dict. Heraldry (rev. ed.) Legs are born in Coat-Armour, either naked, or shod, or booted.

1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 457/2 ‘Gules, three Legs armed proper, conjoined in the Fess-point’... This is the coat of arms of the Isle of Man.

1846 W. Newton Display of Heraldry xv. 111 Argent, a chevron between three eagles' legs erased sable, is borne by the name of Bray.

1909 A. C. Fox-Davies Compl. Guide Heraldry xii. 207 A bull's leg is the crest of De la Vache.

2006 J. T. Koch Celtic Cultures II. 676/1 In Viking times, the coat of arms of the Isle of Man was a ship with sails furled, but after the Viking era ended this was changed to the three legs emblem.

†b. Scottish. Short for leg dollar n. at Compounds 2a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > Scottish coins > [noun] > silver coins

mark1379

noble1417

yokindale1536

Douglas groat1554

James Royal1567

leg1687

fourteen-shilling piece1695

thirteen-pence-halfpenny piece1723

spurred groata1773

sword dollar1825

1687 Acct. in J. Russell Haigs of Bemersyde (1881) xi. 331 To Daick,..a rex-dollar and halfe a legg.

1688 in Sc. Notes & Queries (1888) 1st Ser. 3 39 From Robert Davidson 9 rix dollars and ane leg quhich he had received from Dantzick.

a1722 J. Lauder Jrnls. (1900) 269 The nixt money I brok upon was 52 dollars wheirof 31 of them ware legs.

4. A gesture of submission or deferential respect, an obeisance; spec. a bow, curtsy. Frequently in to make a (†long, †low, etc.) leg and variants. Also in extended use. Cf. leg v. 2. Now archaic.to scrape a leg: see scrape v. 8b.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > respect or show respect [verb (intransitive)] > bow, kneel, or curtsey

loutc825

abowOE

bowa1000

kneel?a1000

kneec1000

crookc1320

to bow the knee1382

inclinec1390

crouchc1394

croukc1394

coucha1500

plya1500

to make or do courtesy1508

beck1535

to make a (long, low, etc.) leg1548

curtsya1556

dopc1557

binge1562

jouk1567

beckon1578

benda1586

humblea1592

vaila1593

to scrape a leg1602

congee1606

to give the stoop1623

leg1628

scrape1645

to drop a curtsy1694

salaam1698

boba1794

dip1818

to make (also perform) a cheese1834

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > manifestation of respect > bowing, kneeling, or curtseying > a bow or curtsey

crookc1330

beckc1375

obediencec1390

obeisancea1393

reverencec1400

inclinationa1425

courtesy1508

curtsy1513

honour1531

leg1548

duck1554

beisance1556

jouk1567

congee1577

crouch1597

humblesso1599

inclinabo1607

salaam1613

dop1616

scrape1628

bowa1656

visit-leg1673

couchee1691

dip1792

bob1825

1548 W. Lynne tr. M. Luther Frutefull & Godly Expos. Kyngdom of Christ sig. Fviii Thou spendest thy money, and makest wery legges, and yet doest no good.

a1587 L. Aldersey in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) i. 181 I turned me to the Basha, and made a long legge, saying, Grand mercye Seignior.

1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. P3^v Whither..haue you brought mee? To Newgate good Master Doctour with a lowe legge they made answer.

1657 T. Reeve God's Plea for Nineveh 74 When he doth congee to the humours of the age, and make low leggs to the fancies of the times.

1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 42 'Tis good to learn to dance, a man may learn his Leg, learn to go handsomly.

1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 106 The Governour..gave them his Hat and Leg.

1839 H. W. Longfellow Hyperion I. i. vii He is one that cannot make a good leg.

1858 Sat. Rev. 31 July 98 The India Bill came simpering on..and made its little leg to an applauding public.

1925 S. Weyman Queen's Folly (1927) 10 She's young..and bidding's no more than wind in the grass when a young spark makes a leg.

2007 E. James Desperate Duchesses i. 13 ‘Your servant, Gryffyn,’ the duke said, making a leg.

5. The part of a boot, pair of trousers, etc., which covers the leg, or a part of the leg.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > covering spec parts of body > other

breasta1486

thigh1533

leg1558

belly1600

instepc1615

knee1662

belly-piece1689

legging1738

wrist1803

bust1808

midriff1941

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > boot leg

leg1558

bootleg1634

1558 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Queen Elizabeth (1908) 19 viii paire of Sloppes parted, the one legge of the said blewe clothe of golde and the other of greene clothe of Silver.

1639 J. Woodall Treat. Plague in Surgeons Mate (rev. ed.) 360 Be carefull to provide them Wastcoates, Sleeves, or, at the least, the legges of old Hose.

1780 D. Monro Observ. Means of Preserving Health of Soldiers (ed. 2) I. i. ii. 8 The troops on the North American service have had a pair of trousers, or breeches with legs, which reach to their shoes furnished them.

1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 248 That..ungainly looking man,..with the straggling black trousers, which reach about half-way down the leg of his boots.

1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations I. ii. 18 To put my hunk of bread-and-butter down the leg of my trousers.

1924 F. J. Mills Happy Days 112 Those trousers..were what was known as half-masters. There was a space of three inches between the bottom of each leg and the top of each boot.

1963 N.Y. Times 19 July 11/2 Silk beach pajama bottoms were cut with a wide leg.

2003 K. Sampson Freshers 38 Jeans so voluminous you could hide a keg of ale down either leg.

a. An artificial or prosthetic leg. Frequently with the material from which the leg is made specified, esp. in wooden leg (see wooden adj. Compounds 2), cork leg, etc. Cf. peg leg n., prosthesis n. 2b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > prosthesis or spare part > [noun] > leg

leg1574

wooden leg1582

stump1679

peg leg1769

timber-toe1785

peg1826

tram1836

jury-leg1850

pylon1919

1574 J. Whitgift Def. Aunswere to Admon. xvi. 624 A legge of woode ioyned cunninglye to a true bodye.

1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. xxiii. xii. 882 The description of legs made artificially of iron.

1788 B. Bell Syst. Surg. VI. 503 A hollow leg made of tin, and covered with thin leather.

1895 Catal. Surg. Instruments (Arnold & Sons) 789 Socket Leg, for amputation above knee, with wooden socket.

1924 Washington Post 3 Jan. 4/5 Col. Emilio P. Cordero, Cuban patriot and soldier,..distinguished himself in the Spanish–American war by carrying messages through the lines in his cork leg.

2014 Worcester News (Nexis) 31 July [She] waved her leg at the front of the crowd. Captured on video..Tony can be heard saying, ‘Jesus, you've taken your leg off’.

†b. Perhaps: a wooden leg used as a frame around which to knit stockings. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making other clothing > [noun] > making hosiery > equipment

leg1699

1699 A. Boyer Royal Dict. (at cited word) A Leg of Wood to put in a Stocking, Forme, pour enformer les Bas.

7. colloquial. In plural.

a. Originally in Billiards. With reference to a ball: the momentum needed to reach a desired point. Esp. in to have (the) legs.

ΚΠ

1869 Sportsman Feb. 87 Cook's ball..never seems to have ‘legs’ to reach the object intended.

1879 J. L. Molloy Our Autumn Holiday on French Rivers xvi. 110 Bow played for a final cannon... His ball struggled on, but, in billiard parlance, it hadn't enough legs.

1918 Golfers Mag. Sept. 23/1 Once or twice it threatened to stop but it just had legs enough to come to the rim..and then fell ‘plump’ into the cup.

1959 I. Fleming Goldfinger ix. 113 Desperately Bond focused the ball and tried to keep his swing all in one piece. There came the ugly clonk of a mis-hit ball... It was a lofted hook. Would it have the legs?

1994 Times 31 May 23/5 He drove Emburey through the leg side,..giving the ball enough ‘legs’ to beat Fraser's chase to the rope.

2013 M. Haszto Deafening Vibrations 228 Matt ripped a long line drive to left center field... It looked as though the ball had enough legs to clear the fence.

b. Originally and chiefly U.S. With reference to a product or idea: popular appeal or success, esp. over a long period of time; the potential to be popular or successful; staying power. Frequently in to have legs.Originally with reference to a book, film, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > quality of being approvable or acceptable > popularity > [noun] > potential for popularity

leg1930

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > quality of being approvable or acceptable > popularity > become popular [verb (intransitive)] > have potential for popularity

to have legs1930

1930 R. R. Clark Let. in Publ. Texas Folk-lore Soc. 8 153 His stuff was much copied and when he wrote something that went the rounds he would say that ‘it had legs’.

1978 N.Y. Times Mag. 23 July 22/2 Books that used to be called pageturners but are now referred to as books with legs, presumably because they seem to walk off the shelves.

1985 Time 4 Feb. 85 Sometimes..movies can elude their death warrants and flourish into cult objects through doggedness and word of mouth. They acquire ‘legs’.

1991 Spy (N.Y.) Mar. 19/2 The Tracking Study can be used to assess a film's potential ‘legs’.

1996 Entertainm. Weekly 3 May 7/1 But it's not clear if the stock has legs: Prices dipped the next trading day to $26 but edged up to just over $17 at press time.

2010 Independent 18 Feb. 20/3 Brown was furious that his spin doctors had ‘allowed’ the story to get legs.

2011 D. Eagleman Incognito (2012) v. 125 No one yet knows whether Jaynes's theory has legs, but the proposal is too interesting to ignore.

8. slang (originally and chiefly U.S.)

a. Sexual intercourse. Frequently in to get (off) some leg: (of a man) to have sexual intercourse.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > [noun] > sexual intercourse

ymonec950

moneOE

meanc1175

manredc1275

swivinga1300

couplec1320

companyc1330

fellowred1340

the service of Venusc1350

miskissinga1387

fellowshipc1390

meddlinga1398

carnal knowinga1400

flesha1400

knowledgea1400

knowledginga1400

japec1400

commoning?c1425

commixtionc1429

itc1440

communicationc1450

couplingc1475

mellingc1480

carnality1483

copulation1483

mixturea1500

Venus act?1507

Venus exercise?1507

Venus play?1507

Venus work?1507

conversation?c1510

flesh-company1522

act?1532

carnal knowledge1532

occupying?1544

congression1546

soil1555

conjunction1567

fucking1568

rem in re1568

commixture1573

coiture1574

shaking of the sheets?1577

cohabitation1579

bedding1589

congress1589

union1598

embrace1599

making-outa1601

rutting1600

noddy1602

poop-noddy1606

conversinga1610

carnal confederacy1610

wapping1610

businessa1612

coition1615

doinga1616

amation1623

commerce1624

hot cocklesa1627

other thing1628

buck1632

act of love1638

commistion1658

subagitation1658

cuntc1664

coit1671

intimacy1676

the last favour1676

quiffing1686

old hat1697

correspondence1698

frigging1708

Moll Peatley1711

coitus1713

sexual intercourse1753

shagging1772

connection1791

intercourse1803

interunion1822

greens1846

tail1846

copula1864

poking1864

fuckeea1866

sex relation1871

wantonizing1884

belly-flopping1893

twatting1893

jelly roll1895

mattress-jig1896

sex1900

screwing1904

jazz1918

zig-zig1918

other1922

booty1926

pigmeat1926

jazzing1927

poontang1927

relations1927

whoopee1928

nookie1930

hump1931

jig-a-jig1932

homework1933

quickie1933

nasty1934

jig-jig1935

crumpet1936

pussy1937

Sir Berkeley1937

pom-pom1945

poon1947

charvering1954

mollocking1959

leg1967

rumpy-pumpy1968

shafting1971

home plate1972

pata-pata1977

bonking1985

legover1985

knobbing1986

rumpo1986

fanny1993

1967 H. S. Thompson Hell's Angels i. 16 They were loaded and they wanted to get off some leg.

1969 U. Hannerz Soulside vi. 126 Already boys less than ten years old talk in the group context about ‘getting some pussy’ (or ‘some leg’ as boys in Washington started saying about 1967).

1978 Maledicta 1977 1 227 Some free leg (sex).

2007 I. Christe Everybody wants Some vi. 69 Hey man, that suit is you! You'll get some leg tonight for sure!

b. Women considered as a source of sexual intercourse or satisfaction. Now usually in a bit of leg, a piece of leg.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual partner > [noun] > woman considered in sexual terms or as a sexual partner

cunnya1593

watermilla1626

piece of ass1816

fuck1870

gash1914

assa1916

mama1916

bim1922

pigmeat1926

nookie1928

screw1937

poontang1945

poon1947

trim1955

a bit (or piece) of crumpet1959

leg1968

1968 W. Heyen & W. Taggart What happens in Fort Lauderdale 60 When it comes to pulling leg, I get my share, you know.

1983 ‘J. Cain’ Saigon Commandos xxix. 441 Just a lot of hot leg in here.

1997 Times (Nexis) 16 July Mr McKever, a veteran of Dunkirk, confessed: ‘I still look after a nice bit of leg from time to time.’

II. Something that resembles a leg in shape, appearance, or function, esp. as a support.

a. A bar, pole, stem, or beam used as a support or prop (esp. in Shipbuilding and Mining).The sense in quots. 1554, 1564 is uncertain.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > prop

stipera1000

prop1440

shorec1440

lega1475

stut1559

spurn1620

stilt1633

Dutchman1859

a1475 Bk. Quinte Essence (1889) 5 Take what vessel of glas þat ȝe wole, or of erþe strongly glasid, and þer-vpon a round foot of glas wiþ a leg.

1554 in R. Adam Edinb. Rec. (1899) I. 119 The expensis..on the bigging of the Schoir of Leyth... Item, for ane draucht of laiggis fra the Borromure to the schoir iij s. vj d.

1564 Protocol. Bks. T. Johnsoun (1920) 138 Sex pece of curtenis of lynnyng with the leggis..ane pair of curtenis..with the leggis.

1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. iv. 73 One end of the Carriage is supported with two Legs, or a Fork of three foot high.

1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 81 'Tis set upon the Ground by means of three Legs or Staves..put into as many Sockets below the Ball... The lesser sort..require but one Leg.

1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Leg. 1. S[cotland]. A wooden prop supporting one end of a bar. 2. Y[orkshire]. A stone which has to be wedged out from beneath a larger one.

1886 R. C. Leslie Sea-painter's Log iv 68 The yacht is likely to fall over, and, breaking her leg under her, receive serious damage.

1945 Pop. Mech. Sept. 137/1 The prop consists of two legs, which are long pieces of 2 by 4-in. stock pivoted together in the center.

1997 D. M. Farrar in G. F. Read & I. Vickridge Sewers I. vii. 129 (caption) Timber framed and boarded pit for manhole construction... Ground prop or leg.

b. spec. Each of the two or more poles or masts which are fastened together to make shears for lifting or supporting loads (see shear n.¹ 4).

ΚΠ

1793 J. Chalmers in J. Clerk Reps Culross & Valleyfield Collieries 43 Estimate of probable expence of removing the articles of the Kincardine Fire-engine... To shear legs and capstone. 16 5 0.

1832 C. S. Drewry Mem. Suspension Bridges 72 To drive the second clump which was in deeper water, two pairs of shears were floated out at high tide, and then their legs sunk at low tide by fastening stones to them.

1857 J. M. Boyd Man. Naval Cadets 127 If the sheers are very large, additional guys—belly guys—are put on half-way up the sheer legs.

1872 Engineering 17 May 329/1 The compact arrangement of machinery now illustrated has been designed in order to reduce the space to be occupied by the machinery and the back leg of the sheers to a minimum.

1949 Boys' Life May 14/2 (caption) The 4′ cross piece is placed on the legs, 2 feet from ends. Lash cross piece to shears with two square lashings.

1995 Man. Seamanship (Admiralty) 3-203 When the head lashing has been completed the heels of the legs are opened out to the required distance.

10. A plant stem or root; the trunk of a young tree.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > part of plant > stem or stalk > [noun]

stealc700

stemc888

spirea1000

stalka1366

caulc1420

codd?1440

stalec1440

thighc1440

shank1513

pipe?1523

start?1523

spindle1577

leg1597

scape1601

haulm1623

caulicle1657

culm1657

thyrse1658

scapus1704

stemlet1838

stam1839

caulis1861

caulome1875

tige1900

the world > plants > part of plant > root > [noun]

moreeOE

rootc1175

master-rootc1330

rootinga1400

radix1558

leg1597

taproot1601

top-root1651

tuberous root1668

heart-root1669

pivot1725

spill1766

tap1796

tutty-more1873

pneumatophore1891

stem root1901

heart-root1903

the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > stem, trunk, or bole

stovenc1000

bolec1314

bodyc1330

stock1340

shaft1398

stealc1440

truncheonc1449

trunk1490

stud1579

leg1597

butt1601

truncus1706

stam1839

1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 45 In English it is called Spiderwoort..for this cause..; The leaues..stand vpon the ground with long legs, and the knees bowing vp like the spiders legs when he creepeth.

1673 N. Grew Idea Phytol. Hist. ii. i. 59 The shape of some Roots is inverted; for whereas most are parted downwards into several Legs, some are parted upwards into divers Necks.

1792 A. Swinton Trav. Norway, Denmark, & Russia 503 Stock, the leg or stem of a plant.

1872 Gardener's Mag. 9 Mar. 127/1 If they [sc. tender annuals] are running up with long legs, prick them out and plant them in the fresh soil deep enough to cure their legginess.

1876 Gardeners' Chron. 22 July 103/1 Like many other plants, it [sc. the chrysanthemum] is not all perfection, and has an objectionable length of leg.

1900 Country Life Illustr. 6 Jan. When..the trees are grown with a single stem, or ‘leg’, as the gardener calls it, there need be no trouble upon the score of sucker growth.

1940 D. Hall Genus Tulipa ix. 128 Leaves usually three on a leg, lowest about 4 cm. from ground level,..pointed, glaucous, sometimes with faint purple broken stripes.

1989 Home & Garden Dec. 28/3 Nuts..are grown on a single stem or ‘leg’, with seven or eight main branches radiating from the top of this.

11. Each of the sides of a triangle (in later use esp. those forming the right angle of a right-angled triangle); a segment of a curve or geometric figure lying to one side of a given vertex or cusp (frequently with distinguishing word, as hyperbolic leg, parabolic leg, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > geometry > shape or figure > [noun] > two-dimensional > triangle > side or segment of

casus?a1560

hypotenuse?a1560

shank1587

leg1603

crure1610

hypotenusal1648

crus1712

1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1020 The triangle with three unequall legs made the pyrimidall body.

1659 J. Moxon Tutor to Astron. (1674) vi. i. 184 The Legs of a Right Angled Spherical Triangle.

1702 J. Raphson Math. Dict. Isosceles Triangle is a Triangle that has two equal Legs.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Curve The Legs of Curves..are either of the Parabolic or Hyperbolic Kind: an Hyperbolic Leg, being that which approaches infinitely towards some Asymptote; a Parabolic, that which has no Asymptote.

1839 Observer & Rec. Agric., Sci., & Art. 1 July 158/1 Sir Isaac Newton reduces all curves..into those with hyperbolic legs, and those with parabolic ones.

1859 Math. Monthly Apr. 254 These sides are then called the legs of the triangle, while the third side is called the hypothenuse.

1934 Sewerage Wks Jrnl. 6 197 The author also studied the decreasing leg of the curve to which we need make no further reference at this point.

1964 A. H. Beiler Recreations in Theory of Numbers (1966) xiv. 104 The Pythagorean theorem, which states that the sum of the squares on the legs of a right-angled triangle is equal to the square on the hypotenuse.

2004 Winchester (Va.) Star 6 Mar. I b4/5 Travelling two legs of a triangle, instead of the hypotenuse, adds more length to the line.

12. Nautical. A part of a device such as a crowfoot (crowfoot n. 4a) which divides a single load into a number of points of attachment; (more generally) a rope which forms a connection (in various applications). Cf. centipede n. 3. Now chiefly historical.See also cat-harping legs, variant of cat-harpings n. at harpings n. 2.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > types of short ropes

leg1611

snorter1750

snotter1815

pigtail1894

1611 S. Pepys MS 2911 (Magdalene Coll. Cambr.) 125/2 The foremaste tacle... The legge.

1625 in Mariner's Mirror (1919) 5 128/1 The martlets..ar fastened at every end to a small lope called legs.

1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. v. 24 Legs are small ropes put thorow the bolt ropes of the maine and fore saile, neere to a foot in length, spliced each end into the other in the leech of the saile, hauing a little eye whereunto the martnets are fastened by two hitches.

1737 W. Pardon Dyche's New Gen. Eng. Dict. (ed. 2) (at cited word) Those small Ropes that are put thro' the Bolt Ropes of the Main and Fore-Sail in the Leetch of the Sail..these are called Legs of the Martnets.

1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 169 Legs, short ropes which branch out into two or more parts, as the bowline-legs or bridles, buntline-legs, crowfoot-legs, &c.

1860 Mercantile Marine Mag. 7 113 A leach-line is bent on each yard-arm, then carried through thimbles on the band,..thence up before the sail, and the two meet and fall to deck in one leg.

1965 Mariner's Mirror 51 241 Stouter line for making legs to attach crab-pots to a main line.

2009 O. A. Eriksen Constitution 72 The Hull Model shows the lower end of the mizzen stay spliced with a ‘leg’ to the stay aft of the mainmast and a U-shaped metal heart inserted with a spreader rod.

13.

a. Each of the supports of a piece of furniture or equipment, or of a building or structure which is raised from the ground.chair-leg: see chair n.¹ Compounds 1a. table leg: see table n. Compounds 1a(a).

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > [noun] > parts of furniture generally > leg or support

leg1616

Marlborough leg1788

therm1788

monopodium1807

cabriole leg1844

pedestal1851

cabriole1888

sabre leg1952

1616 in J. Imrie & J. G. Dunbar Accts. Masters of Wks. (1982) II. 19 For ane grit ferr jeist to David Andersoun the plumber to be leggis to his muild.

1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. x. 177 The Legs and Cheeks are to be fastned with Braces to the Floor..of the Room the Lathe stands in.

1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 147 [He] was straitway extended flat upon his belly, on the bench, with a pillow under his face; and as he thus tamely lay, I tied him slightly hand and foot, to the legs of it.

1785 W. Cowper Task i. 19 Joint-stools were then created; on three legs Upborne they stood.

1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xlvi. 501 Mr. Pickwick grated the legs of his chair against the ground.

1895 N.Y. Times 24 Mar. 29/5 One leg of the steel-pointed camera tripod was thrust into the sleeping snake.

1956 Mariner's Mirror 42 280 There is another line forward of the A-frame, so I am suggesting that this is the third leg of a tripod mast.

1997 Washington Post 10 July (Home section) 20/1 Houses on legs are a familiar sight along the ocean or the bay, given the requirements for storm tolerance or dune preservation.

2012 A. Cahill Life Happens i. 4 I stubbed my toe on the leg of the coffee table as I ran around it.

b. Oil Industry. Each of the steel columns extending below the main deck of an offshore oil platform or rig, used to float and stabilize the structure or to rest it on the seabed.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > oil and natural gas recovery equipment > [noun] > platform > beam supporting deck

leg1931

skid1975

skid beam1976

1866 U.S. Patent 58,235 2/1 In combination with the derrick-frame AAB, the pivoted foot at the end of the leg B of the frame, as and for the purpose described.]

1931 U.S. Patent 1,811,761 2/1 [Submarine Oil Well Derrick]. The derrick..is shown partly broken away for convenience... Each of the four legs is positioned immediately above the vertical uprights.

1954 Business Week 10 Apr. 75/1 When the legs have been driven far enough to carry the load, the barge is lifted out of the water to the desired height.

1969 Punch 26 Feb. 313/2 The control room man can flood or pump out the legs just by squeezing small levers—four thousand tons of water in each leg, and she sinks to rest on the sea bottom. A bit less and she floats.

1992 D. McLean Bucket of Tongues 38 There was a couple of divers doing maintenance on the outside of the leg.

2009 A. Rae Oil, Plastics & Power 11/1 The legs of the platform act like an artificial reef.

14. Each of the two branches of a forked, jointed, or curved object or structure.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > constituent part or component > of a complex structure or instrument > of a forked or jointed object

leg1644

1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xiiii. 120 The two legges of a compasse.

1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 120 The Legs of a Carpenter's Joynt-Rule.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Compasses The common Compasses consist of two Branches or Legs.

1801 T. Jefferson Writings (1893–9) VII. 482 A rainbow, therefore,..plunges one of it's legs down to the river.

1866 Croquet: Implem. & Laws 10 A ball is Wired when it cannot effect the stroke desired on account of the leg of a hoop (wire) intervening.

1923 N.Y. Times 2 Sept. x. 12/2 Men are at work stripping away the river bank and the face of the cliffs preliminary to the building of abutments on which the legs of the arch will rest.

2015 Oskaloosa (Iowa) Herald (Nexis) 25 Feb. (State & Regional News section) The two points on the legs of the compass help mark the map with accurate distances on the paper while adapting miles to scaled distances.

15. Mining and Geology. Each of the descending parts on either side of the axis of an anticline (cf. sense 14); either of the two descending lateral prolongations of a coal deposit, gold-bearing quartz reef, etc., situated in a saddle or anticline.In quot. 1877 more generally: a portion of a mineral deposit protruding downwards into other strata.

ΚΠ

1858 H. D. Rogers Geol. Pennsylvania II. 58 On the W. side the bed exhibits an anticlinal dip in the drift, with the coal 10 feet thick on each side of the axis. Extending the drift along the Northern or steepest leg of the arch, the dip suddenly changes from 35° or 40° N. almost to perpendicular.

1877 J. Geikie Great Ice Age (ed. 2) 378 The men..informed me that it was only a ‘leg’, and was connected with the stuff at the top—from which they said several such ‘legs’ had come.

1881 Reps. Mining Surveyors & Registrars (Victoria) Mar. 34 As the lode deepens it assumes a saddle shape, thence forming two reefs; the western leg underlaying west 72 degrees.

1896 C. D. Walcott Cambrian Rocks Pennsylvania (Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. No. 134.) 15 The southern leg of Dr. Frazer's anticline is formed of rocks that bear no resemblance to the Mesozoic Red sandstone.

1917 Austral. Statesman & Mining Standard 4 Jan. 9/3 The work on the west leg of the Central Blue reef has not disclosed gold up to the present.

1976 J. D. Ridge Annotated Bibliogr. Min. Deposits Afr., Asia, & Australasia 448 Leg reefs continue down a bedding fault or plane from a saddle reef or are isolated below the saddle.

1987 G. Capello et al. in G. Matheron & M. Armstrong Geostatist. Case Stud. 74 The first [zone]..is slightly inclined and highly irregular with throws of up to 90 m. It represents the western leg of the anticline.

2003 W. D. Birch & A. H. M. VandenBerg in W. D. Birch Geol. Victoria i. 10 (caption) Upper S3 Reef—East Leg (some 10 m below the cap and 650 m below surface) within the No. 3 ribbon of the Sheepshead Anticline, Bendigo goldfield.

16. Lacemaking. A thread which links patterns together into a larger piece. Cf. bride n.² 4. Chiefly in plural.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > pattern > network which connects patterns

bar1852

brides1864

leg1864

1864 Athenæum 24 Dec. 851/3 These connecting threads were called, in English, ‘Pearl-ties’ and ‘Cockscombs’; the Italians called them ‘Legs’.

1865 F. B. Palliser Hist. Lace xxii. 263 Early guipure of Venice or darned network, in which the raised flowers were strung together by legs or brides.

1900 E. Jackson Hist. Hand-made Lace 214 Legs,..the connecting threads thrown across spaces in needlepoint and bobbin laces.

1988 B. M. Cook Torchon Lace Workbook 47 Twist each leg pair twice more.

17. In plural. (A humorous nickname for) the number eleven in the game of bingo; short for legs eleven n. at Compounds 2a.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > bingo or lotto > [noun] > specific numbers

clickety-click1917

legs eleven1917

legs1933

1933 L. A. G. Strong Sea Wall 256 A game of ‘house’ was in progress and a voice monotonously droned the numbers: ‘..legs... Kelly's eye.’

1987 J. Green Dict. Jargon 56/2 Bingo calls, doctor's orders (9); legs (11); key of the door (21); all the t(h)rees, Epping Forest (33); droopy drawers (44).

2000 Evening Herald (Plymouth) (Nexis) 5 May (What's On Suppl.) 24 Two little ducks, the key of the door, legs, two fat ladies, Heinz varieties. Bingo and its lingo may seem quaint.., but to thousands of fanatics it's nothing short of a religion.

18. In plural. In wine tasting: the liquid trails that cling briefly to the sides of a glass after the wine has been swirled. Also known as tears.

ΚΠ

1971 N.Y. Mag. 20 Dec. 41/1 (advt.) A full bodied wine will come down the glass in ‘sheets’. A lighter wine will break into ‘legs’.

1983 D. Stewart Cellars Market 173 That wine is..beautiful... The colour, the bouquet, the legs round the glass. All perfect.

2009 E. McCarthy et al. Wine All-in-One for Dummies i. v. 74 A wine's legs are a complicated phenomenon having to do with the surface tension of the wine and the evaporation rate of the wine's alcohol.

III. Senses referring to people.

19. depreciative. A swindler, esp. a swindling bookmaker; = blackleg n. 2. Now historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > worker according to manner of working > [noun] > striking > refusing to strike

dung1765

scab1777

knobstick1794

leg1815

rat1824

nob1825

black1826

blackneb1832

blacknob1838

knob1839

snob1839

blackleg1844

snob-stick1860

non-striker1868

ratter1890

strike-breaker1904

1815 Sporting Mag. 45 39 The Goose that laid the Golden Egg should be a lesson to the legs on the turf.

1884 H. Smart From Post to Finish xxiii. 172 The world regards me as a compound of leg and money-lender.

1967 K. Giles Death & Mr. Prettyman x. 185 Ferdinand followed the profession of being a ‘leg’, as they called crooked gamblers.

20. U.S. slang. A woman, esp. one who is attractive or (in later use) promiscuous. Also occasionally in plural.In later use probably influenced by sense 8.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > woman > [noun]

wifeeOE

womaneOE

womanOE

queanOE

brideOE

viragoc1000

to wifeOE

burdc1225

ladyc1225

carlinec1375

stotc1386

marec1387

pigsneyc1390

fellowa1393

piecec1400

femalea1425

goddessa1450

fairc1450

womankindc1450

fellowessa1500

femininea1513

tega1529

sister?1532

minikinc1540

wyec1540

placket1547

pig's eye1553

hen?1555

ware1558

pussy?a1560

jade1560

feme1566

gentlewoman1567

mort1567

pinnacea1568

jug1569

rowen1575

tarleather1575

mumps1576

skirt1578

piga1586

rib?1590

puppy1592

smock1592

maness1594

sloy1596

Madonna1602

moll1604

periwinkle1604

Partlet1607

rib of man1609

womanship?1609

modicum1611

Gypsy1612

petticoata1616

runniona1616

birda1627

lucky1629

she-man1640

her1646

lost rib1647

uptails1671

cow1696

tittup1696

cummer17..

wife1702

she-woman1703

person1704

molly1706

fusby1707

goody1708

riding hood1718

birdie1720

faggot1722

piece of goods1727

woman body1771

she-male1776

biddy1785

bitch1785

covess1789

gin1790

pintail1792

buer1807

femme1814

bibi1816

Judy1819

a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823

wifie1823

craft1829

shickster?1834

heifer1835

mot1837

tit1837

Sitt1838

strap1842

hay-bag1851

bint1855

popsy1855

tart1864

woman's woman1868

to deliver the goods1870

chapess1871

Dona1874

girl1878

ladykind1878

mivvy1881

dudess1883

dudette1883

dudine1883

tid1888

totty1890

tootsy1895

floozy1899

dame1902

jane1906

Tom1906

frail1908

bit of stuff1909

quim1909

babe1911

broad1914

muff1914

manhole1916

number1919

rossie1922

bit1923

man's woman1928

scupper1935

split1935

rye mort1936

totsy1938

leg1939

skinny1941

Richard1950

potato1957

scow1960

wimmin1975

womyn1975

womxn1991

1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn 278 ‘Get a look at that,’ he'd say, pointing to a girl strolling along the sidewalk. ‘Jesus, what a leg!’

1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §427/2 Well-formed young woman,..legs.

1970 Current Slang (Univ. S. Dakota) 4 20 Leg, n. A girl.

1977 Amer. Speech 1975 50 62 Leg, promiscuous female, one who readily engages in sexual intercourse.

21. U.S. Military slang (derogatory). An infantry soldier. Cf. grunt n. 2b.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by branch of army > [noun] > foot-soldier

footmanc1325

page?a1400

pieton?1473

foot soldier1587

rondache1607

peon1609

tolpatch1705

foot wobbler1785

wobbler1785

doughboy1835

fantassin1835

mud-crusher1864

web foot1866

grabby1868

infantryman1883

flat-foot1889

gravel-crusher1889

foot-slogger1894

PBI1916

mud-slogger1936

infanteer1944

leg1969

1969 I. Kemp Brit. G.I. in Vietnam ii. 25 Come on you bunch of sick legs!

1978 T. O'Brien Going after Cacciato 155 He grinned and gestured at Oscar's boots. ‘You guys are legs, I guess. Grunts.’

2002 Atlanta Jrnl.-Constit. (Nexis) 11 May 1 a As an infantry soldier, he is still a ‘leg’, in the parlance of his Airborne-qualified father and uncles.

IV. Cricket. Senses relating to the leg side (leg side n.).

22. A fielding position in line with or a short distance behind the wicket on the leg side; a fielder occupying this position. Frequently and now only with modifying adjective, as long leg (long leg n. 4), short leg (short adj., n., and adv. Compounds 6d), square leg (square adj. Compounds 3a), etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] > fielder > fielders by position

middle wicket1772

long-stop1773

second stop1773

stop1773

long fieldsman1790

long field?1801

third man1801

outscout1805

leg1816

point1816

slip1816

backstop1819

long fielder1835

long leg1835

long field off1837

short leg1843

square leg1849

cover-point1850

long-stopper1851

middle-off1851

cover-slip1854

long off1854

left fielder1860

short square1860

mid-off1865

extra cover (point)1867

deep-fielder1870

mid-on1870

cover1897

leg trap1897

infield1898

deep field1900

slipper1903

slip fieldsman1906

midwicket1909

infieldsman1910

slip-catcher1920

infielder1927

leg slip1956

1816 W. Lambert Instr. & Rules Cricket 41 Leg or hip. The person who takes this place should stand a little back of the straight line of the popping crease.

1858 Chambers's Information for People (new ed.) II. xiii. 688/2 Leg should stand rather behind the striker, in a diagonal line, about twelve or sixteen yards from the wicket.

1880 Times 28 Sept. 11/5 The men were placed thus:—Mr. Jarvis, wicket-keeper;..Bannerman, leg [etc.].

1951 People 3 June 8/6 Then Flavell got Rogers caught at short leg at 98.

2014 Daily Tel. 25 Apr. (Sport section) 16/4 He responded by becoming a notorious blocker, compounding the frustration of bowlers with his habit of walking halfway to square leg between deliveries.

23. = leg side n. Usually as the object of a preposition and now usually without article, as in e.g. to hit to (the) leg. Cf. off n. 4. In early use often in reference to the section of the leg side of the field in line with or behind the stumps; cf. sense 22. Used in preference to on as the contrast of off in uses relating to bowling (see e.g. quot. 1935).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > parts of field

long field1828

leg1833

silly point1862

deep field1870

country1878

infield1898

the deep1906

rough1952

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > side

leg side?1801

offside1816

leg1833

on-side1833

off1836

on1836

long on1843

long off1854

1833 New Sporting Mag. Sept. 325 ‘Look to the leg,’ aye there it goes, One—two—three—how they're running!

1843 ‘Wykhamist’ Pract. Hints Cricket 18 As soon as ever the Ball is pitched to the leg.

1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 397 A beautifully pitched ball for the outer stump, which the..unfeeling Jack..hits right round to leg for five.

1927 G. A. Terrill Out in Glare v. 89 Leg was almost an empty area so far as fielders were concerned.

1935 Manch. Guardian 23 May 3/3 Hammond bowled slower than he usually does and got a prodigious swerve from leg to off in collaboration with the wind.

1955 Times 4 July 3/3 Yet just when he seemed assured of a 50..his attempted sweep to leg at a straight enough ball was rather too saucy.

2014 Sunday Times (South Africa) (Nexis) 26 Oct. (Sport section) Trent Boult backed away to leg to make some space to smash the ball all the way to the south island.

V. A part or section of something.

24. A distinct stage or stretch of a voyage, journey, course, or (later) race.

a. Nautical. The course and distance sailed on a single tack (tack n.¹ 6a).

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of wind > [noun] > continuous sail on one tack

stretch1675

reach1830

leg1846

1846 Graham's Mag. Dec. 287/2 The Swash was under what Mrs. Budd might have called her ‘attacking’ canvas, and was close by the wind, looking on a good leg well up the harbor.

1892 H. G. Hutchinson Fairway Island 20 I'll fetch down on a long leg, and catch the ‘Pengelley’ on a single tack.

1895 Daily News 8 July 8/6 Valkyrie..preferred a series of short legs off Wemyss Bay to weather the Skelmorlie.

1920 Blackwood's Mag. Feb. 166/1 On each new ‘leg’ of our zigzags, our eyes were straining over ever-new horizons.

1993 E. A. Proulx Shipping News xxvi. 210 Quoyle did not understand how to tack a zigzag across the bay, a long run with the wind and waves on his bow and then a short leg with the wind on his quarter.

b. Sailing. In a race: a side of the course between two marks.

ΚΠ

1885 Forest & Stream 20 Aug. 76/2 The wind favored him on the windward leg.

1901 Rudder Oct. 381/2 The Columbia beat the Constitution 1 minute 53 seconds on the leeward leg of fifteen miles.

1964 Motor Boating Dec. 51 The ideal course makes the three legs equal in length.

1998 Yachts & Yachting 21 Aug. 95/2 On the downwind leg Reay sailed well wide to find some extra wind and pass Colin Meadows in the leading Arun boat.

2014 Advocate (Burnie, Tasmania) (Nexis) 16 Dec. 30 Rob Rickard headed the fleet to the first mark after a long windward leg.

c. gen. A part or stage of a journey.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [noun] > a stage in a journey

mansiona1382

journey1490

gests1550

jessa1593

stage1603

stade1616

manzil1619

skoff1785

pipe1793

leg1898

lap1932

1898 Piqua (Ohio) Daily Call 6 Oct. This [sc. 4,100 miles] is the length of line our battleships..will have to travel on the provisions and coal they will carry in them on the first leg of their journey to Manila.

1927 National Geographic Mag. Aug. 185/2 (heading) First non-stop leg of the journey was 1,400 miles.

1973 C. Bonington Next Horizon xiii. 196 We squeezed out of the snow cave for the last leg down to Scheidegg.

1999 Mirror 15 June 15/3 If you're travelling a long way and you do want to take the car for the first leg of the journey there is a Park and Ride system being set up.

2013 Radio Times 30 Nov. (South/West ed.) 78/2 He starts the next leg of his journey in Bordeaux.

d. Sport. A section of a race done in stages.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > [noun] > part of

half1897

leg1931

stage1943

1931 Pop. Mech. Mar. 435/1 Both drove for all they were worth on the last leg of the [sled dog] race.

1959 Life 13 July 27/1 An army of cyclists gets a hand-waving welcome on an early leg of the Tour de France.

1990 Independent (Nexis) 3 Jan. (Sport section) 30 Peter Blake..and Grant Dalton..continued their fierce battle..in the third leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race.

2014 M. Evans & J. M. Cappaert Triathletes in Motion viii. 276 It is the running leg of the triathlon that very often determines who makes the podium and who falls just short.

e. Esp. Athletics and Swimming. A section of a relay race completed by a single team member. Recorded earliest in anchor leg at anchor n.¹ Compounds 1b.

ΚΠ

1933 Brownsville (Texas) Herald 9 Mar. 7/1 Pat..ran the anchor leg on the winning relay.

1955 N.Y. Times 23 Jan. 3/6 Wiggins swam his leg of the relay in 56 seconds flat.

1989 Guardian (Nexis) 11 Sept. Todd Bennett..pulled up a place on a fast leg but lost it, only to work an advantage in a scrambled changeover.

2008 Metro (Nexis) 22 Aug. (London ed.) 60 The USA again dropped the baton on the final leg but the British quartet..safely progressed to the final.

25.

a. Betting (originally Australian and New Zealand). Each part of a cumulative bet; (before the late 20th cent. usually) each part of a single bet on the two (often consecutive) horse races which make up a double (see double n. Additions and daily double n. at daily adj. and n. Compounds).

ΚΠ

1881 Melbourne Punch 14 July 14/1 I beat Berry, and now that I want to get the second leg in of the double, they [sc. the bookmakers] immediately try to nobble me, and want me scratched right off.

1884 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) 26 July 3/1 Here and in Australia, whether the dead heat occurs in connection with the first or second ‘leg’ of the double event, the money is put together and divided.

1933 Winnipeg Free Press 29 May 4/5 In the grandstand, conferring with his friends, and stating which horses he had picked for the first leg of the double.

1978 Royal Comm. Gambling: Final Rep. II. 479 in Parl. Papers 1977–8 (Cmnd. 7200) VII. 285 If a punter fails to choose the winner of the first leg of a double or treble with a bookmaker, the stakes are lost.

1997 Sporting Life (Nexis) 19 June 9 England to win 2-0 and Shearer to be first-scorer at odds of 8-1 and 4-1 are related contingencies, where the outcome of one leg of the bet affects the outcome of the other.

2015 Sunday Times (Ireland ed.) (Nexis) 15 Mar. (Business section) 5 Top horse..Annie Power was the final leg of hundreds of accumulator bets.

b. Sport. Each of the matches that constitute a single tie in a cup or tournament; esp. (chiefly in Association Football) each of a pair of matches in which two teams play each other at home and away with the aggregate score deciding the tie.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > game or definite spell of play > specific one of series

heata1663

rubber game1793

round1837

rubber match1843

tie-match1864

final1880

postseason1882

semi-final1884

preliminary1886

cup-tie1895

play-off1895

tie1895

leg1899

repechage1899

qualifier1908

quarter-final1916

playdown1918

rounder1918

go-around1933

quick death1938

semi1942

pretrial1946

quarter1950

barrage1955

tie-breaker1961

semi-main1968

tie-break1970

breaker1979

1899 Sunday Post (Boston) 5 Mar. 19/6 The Hub rollers won the first leg of a series of three matches.

1913 Salt Lake Tribune 10 June 6/4 McLoughlin..defeated..Doust of the Australian team in three straight sets today, giving America the first leg of the Davis cup elimination series.

1945 Times 7 Nov. 8/5 In the event of a draw on aggregate after the second leg extra time shall be played 10 minutes each way.

1977 Winnipeg Free Press 8 Dec. 73/2 Barcelona..qualified for the quarter-final round of the UEFA Cup..by beating Ipswich..on penalty kicks after a 3-3 standoff following the completion of home and away legs.

1984 K. Macklin Story of Rugby League vi. 91 Jim Sullivan..kicked three goals in the second leg against a team for which he..had guested.

2015 Independent (Nexis) 30 July (Sport section) 56 The Scottish champions have a goal to defend in the return game..although on the evidence of the first leg the tie is far from over.

c. Darts. A single game in a match.

ΚΠ

1929 Oelwein (Iowa) Daily Reg. 24 June 2/5 Perhaps the Wolf's Head or the Flower Pot team wins the first ‘leg’ from the Queen's Arms or the Duke of York.

1981 D. Whitcombe How to play Darts iii. 13 In the third and decisive leg I got to a double first.

1992 Darts World Oct. 45/3 Though kitty was back on 224, she hit 138, 37 and 49 to wrap the leg.

2015 Radio Times 28 Feb. (South/West ed.) 27/2 Darts..has the best finish of any sport ever invented. Every time you want to win a leg or a set you must finish on a ‘double,’ the hardest shot of all.

d. Sport. Each of the matches, races, tournaments, etc., that must be won in order to achieve a particular set of victories, esp. in a series of major championships or important matches or races in a particular sport in the same year (e.g. grand slam n. 1c, triple crown n. at triple adj. and adv. Compounds 1c).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > set or series, considered as an achievement > match, etc., in

leg1935

1935 Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 17 June 6/4 Bobby smashed the hopes by winning the title, second leg of the grand slam he scored in 1930.

1948 Washington Post 14 May 5 b/3 Only three colts were left to vie with Calumet's Citation in the famous test of a mile and three sixteenths, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

1989 Times (Nexis) 4 Sept. Simon Berrisford and Steven Redgrave face the first leg of their attempt to win both pair-oar events.

2009 M. J. Fisher Terrible Splendor 260 He [sc. Don Budge] led the U.S. Davis Cup team in defending the Cup successfully against the Australians, and then it was time for the final leg of the Grand Slam.

26. Stock Market.

a. A stage, period, or phase of a market trend relating to either rising or falling stock prices.

ΚΠ

1931 Barron's 31 Aug. 28/3 In every bear market there is one last technical rebound against the primary down trend which must necessarily be at the same time the first leg of a new bull market.

1967 Financial Analysts Jrnl. 23 155/1 This turned out to be the first leg of a bear market following the dynamic eighteen-fold bull market rise from 1948 to 1960.

1978 Financial Times 21 Oct. 4/5 This second leg of a rally which began last April has finally succumbed to a pessimistic interpretation of current economic reality.

2007 R. C. Carlson Invest like Fox vi. 167 All of the value funds earned solid returns during the last leg of the bull market.

b. Of an investment: any of various options in a spread or straddle (straddle n. 2a).

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > specific operations or arrangements

intromission1567

hedginga1631

retiring1681

partnership1704

put1718

time bargain1720

bargain for time1721

option1746

call1825

put and call1826

cornering1841

corner1853

raid1866

pooling1871

squeeze1872

call option1874

recapitalization1874

short squeeze1877

split-up1878

margin call1888

pyramid1888

profit taking1891

pyramiding1895

underwriting1895

melon-cutting1900

round turn1901

market-making1902

put-through1902

put and take1921

round trip1922

put and take1929

leverage1931

split-down1932

switching1932

give-up1934

mark to market1938

recap1940

rollover1947

downtick1954

stock split1955

traded option1955

leg1959

stock splitting1959

rollover1961

split1972

spread betting1972

unitization1974

marking-to-market1981

swap1982

telebroking1984

1959 G. Gold Mod. Commodity Futures Trading xxii. 226 He may well have to suffer a loss on the second leg of the straddle too.

1969 N.Y. Mag. 17 Feb. 37/2 You put on a straddle, as we say. By the end of December the price has moved, so you have a loss on one leg of the straddle and a gain on the other.

1977 N.Y. Times 1 May f2/2 Each ‘leg’, or side of the spread should be in a different delivery month if one commodity is involved.

2009 M. D. Mullaney Compl. Guide Option Strategies xxxi. 471 As a result of entering a spread order, you will not be executed on only one leg of the transaction unless the entire transaction is executed.

27. U.S. Broadcasting. A supplementary network, connected to the main network, which provides coverage for a particular region.

ΚΠ

1937 L. Lewis Radio Dict. in Printers' Ink Monthly May 39/1 Leg, a regional chain, i.e., one link of stations in a network.

1951 E. E. Willis Found. in Broadcasting iii. 47 Often these supplementary stations are organised into groups or legs, which provide coverage of an entire section. The networks all have West Coast legs, for example.

1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. (rev. ed.) XI. 252/2 Network legs are usually..one-way circuits from the AT&T office to the leg office and the stations they feed.

2000 G. Ansbro I have Lady in Balcony xvi. 73/2 During that pause my New England network leg would rejoin the regular network.

Phrases

Many of these phrases have (frequently now more common) parallel forms with foot.

P1. Prepositional phrases.

a. off one's legs. Cf. foot n. and int. Phrases 2b(a).

(a) So as to be no longer standing. Sometimes (esp. in early use) used specifically to describe the effects of sickness or weakness; now usually in to go (also be) off one's legs.

ΚΠ

1622 L. Digges tr. G. de Céspedes y Meneses Gerardo ii. iii. 468 About to haue giuen him a secret iogge, hee [sc. Leoncio] had like to set him off his legges to the ground.

a1654 J. Murcot Several Wks. (1657) 629 The Prodigal was almost beaten off his leggs.

1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 188 Purging Comfits and Ants eggs Had almost brought him off his leggs.

1668 R. Alleine World Conquered 196 How little a wind will blow us off our legs?

1772 R. Warner tr. Plautus Twin Brothers Prol., in B. Thornton et al. tr. Plautus Comedies III. 6 Th'rapid river rap'd him off his legs, And snatch'd him to destruction.

1871 C. H. Hackley tr. T. Billroth Gen. Surg. Pathol. & Therapeutics xvi. 452 Rachitic children are rarely brought to the doctor before either the parents notice the thick limbs or distortion, or until, as the mother expresses it, ‘they are off their legs,’ i. e., they no longer wish to stand or walk.

1904 Clin. Jrnl. 23 Mar. 359/1 Many children who have had an acute illness will go off their legs for a long time.

1953 W. Powell-Owen Compl. Poultry Bk. (rev. ed.) ix. 135 Some of the birds went off their legs and laid a lot of shell-less eggs.

2004 Daily News (N.Y.) (Nexis) 18 Jan. 19 He was walking off the road behind his buddies when the explosive device knocked him off his legs.

(b) To the point of exhaustion or collapse. Now usually in to run (a person) off his (also her) feet (or legs) at run v. Phrases 3b(a), to rush (a person) off his (also her) feet (or legs) at rush v.² Phrases 5.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > cause another to be weary or exhausted

off his legs1631

to weary out1647

1631 B. Jonson Divell is Asse i. i, in Wks. II. 97 They ride 'hem [sc. vices] like their horses off their legges, And here they come to Hell, whole legions of 'hem, Euery weeke tyr'd.

1694 L. Echard tr. Plautus Epidicus v. vii, in tr. Plautus Comedies 120 'Sbudikins, you've almost walk'd me off my Legs tho'.

1776 W. Ward New Treat. Method Breeding Breaking & Training Horses 66 The horse is..trained off his legs before he comes to start.

1823 R. Heber Let. 6 Feb. in A. Heber Life R. Heber (1830) II. xxi. 122 I am really almost worked off my legs.

1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 159 Girls, who will dance him off his legs, unless he's very fit indeed.

1977 R. Park Swords & Crowns & Rings 190 Claudie and Iris, worked off their legs at the shop, tottered home late at night with bits of Belgian sausage and potato salad.

(c) Into the air; off the ground.

ΚΠ

1749 G. West tr. Lucian Of Gymnastick Exercises in tr. Pindar Odes p. clvi Tell me, Solon, what those Young Fellows are about... One of them, as you see, has lifted his Antagonist off his Legs, dashed him upon the Ground, and falling upon him, will not suffer him to rise.

1834 Farmer's Mag. May 13/1 Perhaps one of the best wrestles during the day was that between Nathaniel Robson and John Ewins, who was fairly lifted off his legs and compelled to measure his length on the grass by the former.

1928 Times 17 Dec. 17/5 The sensation of being lifted off one's legs is rare.

2005 Afr. News (Nexis) 24 Aug. A policeman who observed how the crowd had besieged her in the area and had come to her rescue was swept off his legs and carried away by the street urchins.

b. on (also †upon) one's legs.

(a) In a standing position; upright.

(i) gen. Frequently in to get on (also †upon) one's legs and variants. Cf. foot n. and int. Phrases 2a(a), to get on one's feet at get v. Phrasal verbs 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > posture > action of standing up or rising > rise or be standing [verb (intransitive)]

standOE

to get on (also upon) one's legs1578

raise1884

1578 M. Tyler tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra Mirrour Princely Deedes xxxiv. sig. N.v The Gyant being of greate courage, and enforcing himselfe to indure the remnaunt, got on his legges, and..awayted Rosicleer.

1622 L. Digges tr. G. de Céspedes y Meneses Gerardo i. iii. 146 Had not our Gentleman beene on his legges,..and his whole selfe leaning to the Barke of a greene Willow, doubtlesse his fancie might (as a fained dreame) haue shaped, the Cottage, Shepheard, Voice, and Song.

1799 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 1 22 He was obliged to be on his legs the whole day.

1862 G. Borrow Wild Wales III. xiii. 126 Instantly the hound started upon his legs.

1969 A. Fugard Boesman & Lena (1971) ii. 55 Come!.. On your legs! We're going.

2009 P. Saris-Bertelsmann tr. F. W. Saris Darwin Meets Einstein 43 Ivan had a huge bottle of vodka at his mouth and emptied it in one gulp. Minutes later he could not stand on his legs anymore.

(ii) spec. for the purpose of speaking in public, esp. to argue for or against an opinion, action, etc. Frequently in to get on (also upon) one's (hind) legs and variants.

ΚΠ

1705 Observator 31 Jan. At last a worthy City Mouse stood up on its hind Legs, and made a Proposal how it should be done.

1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man ii. 24 When he speaks upon his legs, by the lord he's prodigious.

1792 J. Almon Anecd. Life W. Pitt (octavo ed.) I. xii. 230 Mr. Pitt upon his legs in the House of Commons, charged [etc.].

1801 G. Rose Diaries (1860) I. 321 We found Mr. Sheridan on his legs, moving the adjournment of the House to Monday, to get rid of Mr. Nicholl's motion.

1832 J. P. Collier Diary 18 Feb. in Old Man's Diary (1871) 24 Mathews and his wife (who only appeared once for a few minutes) were quite upon their hind legs.

1887 J. R. Lowell Democracy & Other Addr. 30 Before the authorized and responsible debaters get on their legs.

1925 V. Woolf Mrs. Dalloway 114 Solemnly Richard Dalloway got on his hind legs and said that no decent man ought to read Shakespeare's sonnets.

1964 J. Masters Trial at Monomoy i. 26 That's why I'm on my hind legs now, asking you folks to keep calm.

2005 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 30 Sept. 13 So it's a bit rich chums to watch the PM getting upon his hind legs and receiving an ovation for all that.

(b) In good health, esp. well enough to be up and about. Frequently in to set (a person) on (also †upon) his (also her, etc.) legs and variants: to restore (a person) to health. Cf. foot n. and int. Phrases 2a(b).

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > [phrase] > in fair health

to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1587

among the middlings1826

1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 57 A Straunger..takes such tender care Of him,..As both recouers limmes and gettes his former strength, And settes this feeble seruant vp vpon his legges at length.

1698 G. Powell Imposture Defeated iii. 25 Gus. Iun. Is then the Duke recover'd, and my Friend the happy man, that wrought the wondrous Cure? Ped. Look ye, Sir, your Friend with some of my help, has set the Duke upon his Legs again.

1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 173 The weapon has missed your vitals, and only glanced along the rib; be of good courage; I engage, in a few weeks, to set you once more upon your legs.

1866 W. Collins Armadale iii. xii ‘Gin-and-bitters will put you on your legs again,’ whispered this Samaritan setter-right of the alcoholic disasters of mankind.

1928 C. S. Lewis Let. 25 Feb. (2000) I. 745 I am now on my legs again and indeed much better than I have been for many weeks.

2010 Austral. Mag. (Nexis) 14 Aug. 14 She was very sick, very ill, but she wanted to stay alive until the party. She was so proud to be on her legs again. She attended the party.

(c) figurative. In a secure, prosperous, or favourable position; spec. so as to be financially self-sufficient. Frequently in to set (a person) on (also †upon) his (also her, etc.) legs, esp. with the implication of providing financial assistance. Also in extended use. Cf. to get (or set) (a person or thing) on his (her, etc.) feet at foot n. and int. Phrases 2a(d).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > cause to prosper or flourish [verb (transitive)] > put (a person) in prosperous condition

on one's feetOE

to set upa1616

to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1632

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > promote or help forward (a person, plan, etc.) [verb (transitive)]

furtherc888

fremeOE

filsenc1175

fosterc1175

speeda1240

theec1250

advancec1300

upraisea1340

increasec1380

forthbearc1400

exploit?a1439

aid1502

to set forward(s)1530

farther1570

facilite1585

to set forthward1588

forward1598

facilitate1599

accommodate1611

succeed1613

bespeed1615

to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1632

subserve1645

push1758

support1779

leg up1817

1632 R. Sanderson 12 Serm. 494 A pound, that would..put him into fresh trading, set him vp on his legs, and make him a man for ever.

1698 J. Collier Short View Immorality Eng. Stage Pref. sig. A4^v Throwing in a Word or two; To..keep the English [language] upon its Legs.

1861 A. Trollope Tales of all Countries 132 But at any rate you might have the civility to listen to me when I am endeavouring to put you on your legs.

1884 Sat. Rev. 7 June 731/1 That English credit is not good enough to set Egypt..on her legs again.

2006 Times of India 22 Nov. 27/3 A clutch of east-Asian countries plus India should be active in ‘coalitions of the willing’ set the WTO [i.e. the World Trade Organization] on its legs again.

c. on (also †upon) one's last legs. Formerly also †to one's last legs, †near one's last legs (obsolete).

(a) At or near the end of one's life; close to death.In quot. 1614 as part of an extended metaphor.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > death > [noun] > point of

death's gateOE

the gate(s of death1340

lasta1382

(in) the article (formerly also articles) of death1483

death's door1515

the valley of the shadow of death1535

(one's) last gasp1564

death door1601

extremity1602

on one's last legs1614

verge1750

the Great (Continental) Divide1908

the world > life > death > dead person or the dead > [adjective] > dying

deadlyc893

swelting?a1400

dyingc1450

at (the) utterance1525

in (the, his) extremes1551

parting1562

Acherontic1597

ending1600

departing1603

on one's last legs1614

expiring1635

mortifying1649

morient1679

upon one's last stretch1680

gasping1681

à la mort1700

moribund1721

outward-bound1809

terminal1854

on the brink of the grave1872

defunctive1929

1614 I. T. Horrible Creuel & Bloudy Murther sig. A4 The doating World limping on hir last legges.

a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Old Law (1656) v. 59 Eug. My husband goes upon his last houre now. 1. Cour. On his last legs I am sure.

1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love ii. 25 He had brought me to my last legs.

1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret ii. 43 You was pretty near your last legs.

1798 C. Stearns Maid of Groves ii. iv. 207 Fayther's on his last legs—He has had another right snap of the gout.

1870 L. M. Alcott Let. 11 Aug. in E. D. Cheney L. M. Alcott (1889) ix. 245 The Emperor is on his last legs in every way. He is sick..and so nervous he can't command the army as he wanted to.

1974 W. Foley Child in Forest 73 'Im do only come to see if I be on me last legs.

2005 B. Keating & S. Keating Blood Sisters (2006) xxvii. 514 He's in hospital in Nairobi. On his last legs, poor man.

(b) figurative. On the brink of ruin or collapse; almost completely worn out or spent as a force.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > tribulation, trouble, or affliction > having no resources left > at the end of resources

on one's last legs1678

1678 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. (ed. 2) 89 A Bankrupt... He goes on's last legs.

1753 Pædo-baptism ii. 37 As his conclusion is now come to it's last legs; so it will be hard set, to maintain it's ground.

1846 T. De Quincey Syst. Heavens in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 569/1 If the Earth were on her last legs.

1895 Sunday Herald (Syracuse, N.Y.) 13 Jan. 11/5 Members wish to refute the assertions..that Hayes council ‘is on its last legs’. Never in the history of the council was it in better shape.

1952 Good Housek. (U.S. ed.) Dec. 102/2 All her sheets and pillowcases were on their last legs, and most of the New York stores were having August White Sales.

2003 B. Trapido Frankie & Stankie vii. 138 The green buses are always on their last legs, belching out streams of black smoke and overloaded with downtown workers.

d. to stand on (also †upon) one's own (two) legs: (originally) to stand upright without assistance; (subsequently) to be self-sufficient or independent, esp. to support oneself financially. Also in extended use. Cf. to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) feet at foot n. and int. Phrases 2a(e).

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > independence > be independent [verb (intransitive)] > be self-sufficient

to suffice to oneselfc1475

to shift for oneselfa1513

to work out (one's own) salvation1535

reside1610

to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) feet1621

to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) legs1623

shirk1843

to fish for oneself1867

to live on one's hump1909

1623 P. Massinger Duke of Millaine ii. i. sig. E1 The Duke stands now on his owne legs, and needs No nurse to leade him.

1666 S. Pepys Diary 7 Jan. (1972) VII. 6 I do fear those two families..are quite broken—and I must now stand upon my own legs.

1742 G. Turnbull Observ. Liberal Educ. 19 How then would you have young men able to stand upon their own legs, so as not to be dupes and bubbles when they come into the world?

1755 F. Brooke Old Maid No. 4. (1764) 24 I acknowledge you have had pretty good success, considering your daring attempt to stand on your own legs.

1818 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 33 9 A thing totally destitute of talent could never expect long to stand upon its own legs.

1888 E. A. Bennett Freemen or Slaves ii.30 You'll be a molly-coddle all your days; stand on your own legs, man—stand on your own legs.

1912 Collier's 12 Oct. 29/2 To learn to stand on your own two legs, and look out of your own two eyes, and work with your own two hands, and feed yourself—or starve!

2002 D. Tripathi in A. K. Bagchi Money & Credit Indian Hist. 139 The infuriated directors were in no mood to accept the erroneous interpretation which, if acted upon, would cripple the bank even before it stood on its own legs.

†e. to come upon one's own legs: to do something of one's own free will, on one's merit, or without assistance from others. Also in extended use. Cf. on one's (own) feet (or †foot) at foot n. and int. Phrases 3b. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1628 J. Preston Treat. Effectual Faith 54 in Breast-plate of Faith (1631) Then When the Holy Ghost hath wrought upon the will, and hath turned that, then a man commeth upon his owne legs, and is moved from an inward principle of his owne.

1675 L. Addison Present State Jews ii. 25 He was certain whosoever lived piously and kept the Law, could not miss of being happy: or arriving the bliss to come upon his own leggs.

1866 Times 14 Mar. 9/5 Under the previous system, the ox, though he came on his own legs to the town, did not come alone, but in charge of a drover, whose services are now dispensed with.

1901 Financial Times 2 Aug. 3/2 The automobile is coming, has come, to stay, but it ought to come on its own legs, and not ask the railway carriage to take it up and carry it when it is tired.

1921 O. M. Salter Martha & Mary ii. v. 258 ‘If I come to your house at all I must come on my own legs,’ he said, enigmatically, and refused to be cajoled. Owen knew it was because he would not sit beneath Mary's charity.

†f. to fall on (also †upon) one's legs: to be lucky; to find oneself in a favourable or successful position, esp. by good fortune. Cf. to fall on (also upon) one's feet at fall v. Phrases 1e. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > prosper or flourish [verb (intransitive)] > have good fortune

light?c1225

urec1440

to fall on (also upon) one's feet1574

to fall on (also upon) one's legs1723

to strike it rich1834

to strike oil1860

to luck out1902

to hit the jackpot1910

to bottom on (also upon) gold1926

to strike lucky1951

to hit (also strike, etc.) pay dirt1953

to land on one's feet1958

1723 Duke of Wharton True Briton No. 26. 227 Private Men oftentimes fall on their Legs, and find Friends to relieve, or at least to commiserate them.

1768 J. Bentham Let. 30 Aug. in Corr. (1968) I. 133 I have also met with a College acquaintance. Throw me any where, you see, I can fall upon my Legs as well without as with you.

1841 E. Bulwer-Lytton Night & Morning II. ii. iii. 121 A man who has plenty of brains generally falls on his legs.

1886 L. M. Alcott Jo's Boys iv. 80 Don't fret, old dear; Emil is one of the happy-go-lucky sort who always fall on their legs.

1902 P. H. Fitzgerald Recoll. Dublin Castle & Dublin Society 188 Oh, my boy, he's fallen on his legs as usual; gone and married an heiress.

1910 Irish Homestead 24 Dec. 1066 Our exiles generally fall on their legs.

g. on the leg: (of an animal, esp. a dog or a horse) having undesirably or disproportionately long legs; having legs which are longer than is usual for the species or standard for the breed.

ΚΠ

1859 New Sporting Mag. Aug. 79 He is a trifle on the leg, but he looks what he was—a very clever horse at his fences.

1874 Bell's Life in London 19 Dec. 3/1 Both [dogs] are a bit on the leg, and to some eyes light in the body.

1901 Colman's Rural World 2 Jan. 7/2 The same exhibitors led among the yearlings..a pig that is a trifle on the leg but strong on his toes and very smooth in all his lines.

1999 K. Fox Racing Tribe (2009) x. 114 They exchange the same snippets of jargon... Such-and-such a runner is ‘a bit on the leg’, while another ‘fills the eye’.

P2. In other adverbial phrases.

†a. as right (also straight) as my leg: in good condition, in good order; spec. correct, accurate, true. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1636 J. Taylor Coaches Overthrow (single sheet) The Sick, the Weake, the Lame also, a Coach for ease might beg: When they on foot might lightly goe, that are as Right's my Leg.

1664 J. Wilson Cheats ii. iv. 26 T. T. All's well, and as right as my Leg. Bil. And that's crooked to my knowledge.

1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth IV. 141 Her bald-pate did look like an Ostrich's Egg, This Lady (thought I) is as right as my Leg.

1738 J. Swift Treat. Polite Conversat. i. 38 Lady Answ. But, Mr. Neverout, I wonder why such a handsome strait young Gentleman as you, does not get some rich Widow. Lord Sp. Strait! ay, strait as my Leg, and that's crooked at Knee.

1793 M. Pilkington Rosina III. xii. 88 Right, my old Holefernes! (exclaimed Richard, clapping him on the back in an ecstacy,) right as my leg!

b. all legs and wings.

(a) Having disproportionately long limbs; awkward or ungraceful in gait or bearing; gangly. Used typically of an adolescent.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > bodily height > tallness > [adverb] > and thin

to be all legs and wings1777

lankily1903

1777 Morning Chron. 14 Feb. A young gentleman, remarkable for being tall and thin, attempted to be smart on a lady,..when she retorted, ‘that he was all legs and wings’.

1837 F. Marryat Snarleyyow (ed. 2) I. x. 126 [He] came shambling, all legs and wings, up the hatchway.

1902 C. Garvice Kyra's Fate xiv. 108 She had not been pretty, but had been an angular school-girl, all legs and wings and sharp corners.

1939 F. Thompson Lark Rise v. 98 Like a moll heron, all legs and wings.

1945 Times 9 May 8/4 Sun Storm..was not a racehorse at all. He was an unfledged youngster, all legs and wings.

(b) Nautical. Of a sailing ship: = overmasted adj. Now historical.

ΚΠ

1837 Bentley's Misc. Jan. 626 They belonged to a craft as laid in the harbour,—a reg'lar clipper, all legs and wings.

1881 Naval Encyl. 431/2 Legs and Wings, said of a vessel with masts of great height, and which consequently has too great spread of sail.

1904 E. R. Fremantle Navy as I have known It iii. 45 Her mainmast truck to water line was..147 feet, so that she was ‘all legs and wings’.

1988 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 27 Oct. 67 The exhibition includes a print of a ship nicknamed Giblet Pie because she was ‘all legs and wings’.

c. in fine (also good, high) leg: in high spirits, elated. Cf. in fine, good, high, etc., feather at feather n. 2b.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adjective] > elated

jollyc1305

elated1615

elevateda1640

on (also upon) the high ropes (also rope)1672

high1695

elate1702

uppisha1704

vaudyc1720

in fine (also good, high) leg1808

exalté1831

in high snuff1840

bucked1907

thrilled1908

twitterpated1942

1808 S. Smith Let. 8 Oct. in S. Holland Mem. S. Smith (1855) II. 38 The Mufti in high leg about the Spaniards.

1963 G. Heyer False Colours (2008) iii. 46 No one knows better than me the sort of bobbery he'll get up to when he's in high leg, but he wouldn't play nip-shot now .

1986 R. Thomas White Dove v. 120 Feeling in good leg are you, Nick boy?

1991 R. Coover Pinocchio in Venice ii. 27 You're showing the rope, I know, but a little supper, a glass of wine, and you'll soon be in fine leg!

P3. Phrases with verbs.

a. Originally and chiefly Theatre slang. break a leg: used to wish a person (esp. an actor) well before he or she gives a performance; ‘good luck’. [The semantic motivation is unclear; the likeliest explanation is that, according to theatrical superstition, it is considered unlucky to say the words ‘good luck’ to a performer. Many other suggestions have been made for the origin of the phrase, but few of them are supported by any evidence. A partial formal parallel is shown by German Hals- und Beinbruch!, lit. ‘may you break your neck and your leg!’ (1902 or earlier in a hunting context, 1913 or earlier in a theatre context), but evidence for direct influence of the German well-wishing phrase on the English use appears to be lacking.]

ΚΠ

1925 F. Baldwin Thresholds 75 You say ‘I hope you break a leg’—or your neck—or some such hope of calamity.

1951 San Mateo (Calif.) Times 28 Aug. 16/6 When my cue came and I started to walk onstage, I heard her call to me: ‘Break a leg’.

1990 J. Cantalupo & T. C. Renner Body Mike 10 ‘You're on, Joey..showtime.’ I turned and walked toward the door leading to the courtroom... ‘Break a leg, Joey.’

2005 J. Mullins School Play Stars v. 31 Rosa takes a peek through the curtains and looks out at the audience... ‘Hey Jules, it's time. Break a leg!’

b. to change (his, her, etc.) legs (or leg) and variants: (of a horse) to change step; to lead with the other leg. Cf. change v. 5.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [verb (intransitive)] > change gait or step

to change (his, her, etc.) legs (or leg)1667

break1839

1667 Duke of Newcastle New Method to dress Horses ii. 150 When the Horse is upon the Motion, in the Swiftness of a Gallop, he Changes his Leggs Cross; which is the Action of a Trott.

1774 Gentleman's Mag. May 202/1 If a horse has much load either on him or behind him, he changes legs the instant he has brought that which is in action to a right angle with the ground.

1857 G. A. Lawrence Guy Livingstone ix He [sc. the horse] is in a white lather of foam, and changes his leg twice as he approaches.

1923 Scotsman 12 Sept. 9/3 Close home the filly appeared to change her legs, but this was probably due to the strong hold that Hulme had on her.

2007 Horse & Rider Oct. 22/1 Try to feel if he changes his legs as you were on the wrong leg around the last turn.

c. to cock (also lift, †heave, etc.) (up) one's leg and variants: (of a dog) to urinate. Later also of other animals or (humorously) of a person.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [verb (intransitive)] > urinate

to cock (also lift, heave, etc.) (up) one's legc1405

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §858 An hound whan he comth by the Roser..though he may nat pisse, yet wole he heue vp his leg and make a contenance to pisse.

?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 46 As dotit dog..liftis his leg apon loft thoght he nought list pische.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iv. iv. 36 When did'st thou see me heaue vp my leg, and make water against a Gentlewomans farthingale.

1754 Connoisseur No. 12 (1755) 71 A Hound..came jumping into the Hall, and running to the Justice-Seat lifted up his leg against the Judge's robe.

1781 H. Walpole Let. 6 May (1858) VIII. 38 He lifted up his leg, and just squirted contempt on them.

1810 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1959) III. 292 A man accustomed to cast words in metre and familiar with descriptive Poets & Tourists..must be troubled with a mental Strangury, if he could not lift up his leg six times at six different Corners, and each time p—— a canto.

1963 Times Lit. Suppl. 28 June 482/2 Cocking a leg at every regulation a mongrel dog won fame in Italy a few years ago by his habit of riding on trains.

1969 G. Greene Trav. with my Aunt i. vi. 52 The dogs..came up to the bed..it was lucky neither of them had raised a leg.

2010 J. Skivington Miracle Man xv. 238 Turning quickly away, he almost tripped over Limpy's dog, which was about to cock his leg at him.

†d. Scottish. to draw a person's leg: to try to deceive or mislead another person in a playful way or as a joke. Cf. to pull a person's leg at pull v. Phrases 7a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > banter [verb (transitive)] > make a fool of

playc1410

fordote1563

assot1583

noddy1600

noddypoop1640

to make a monkey (out) of1767

to draw a person's leg1851

rib1912

1851 W. Anderson Rhymes 196 He preached, an' at last drew the auld body's leg, Sae the kirk got the gatherin's o' our Aunty Meg.

1883 W. Aitken Lays of Line 63 Nae maitter hoo sairly his leg ye micht draw, Ye will ne'er howk a quarrel oot o' Sawney M'Graw.

1889 J. M. Barrie Window in Thrums vii. 64 Na, na, Marget, ye dinna draw my leg.

1928 A. E. W. Mason Prisoner in Opal iii. 27 ‘You draw my leg, eh?’ he said; and proud, as he always was of his mastery of English idioms, he repeated the phrase: ‘Yes, you draw my leg.’

e. British slang. to get (also †lay, †lift, have, throw) one's leg over and variants: (chiefly of a man) to have sexual intercourse. Cf. legover n.

(a) With over as a preposition.In quot. 1599 as part of an extended double entendre; cf. ride v. 20.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity [verb (intransitive)] > have sexual intercourse > specifically of a man

to hit the master-vein1592

possess1592

to get one's leg over1599

roger1763

to have one's way with1884

to dip (one's) wick1958

to lay pipe1967

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with > specifically of a man

jape1382

overliec1400

swivec1405

foilc1440

overlay?a1475

bed1548

possess1592

knock1598

to get one's leg over1599

enjoy1602

poke1602

thrum1611

topa1616

riga1625

swingea1640

jerk1650

night-work1654

wimble1656

roger1699

ruta1706

tail1778

to touch up1785

to get into ——c1890

root1922

to knock up1934

lay1934

pump1937

prong1942

nail1948

to slip (someone) a length1949

to knock off1953

thread1958

stuff1960

tup1970

nut1971

pussy1973

service1973

1599 H. Porter Pleasant Hist. Two Angrie Women of Abington sig. C Phil, Be they but Iades? Fran. No faith my wag string here Did founder one the last time that he rid, The best gray Nag that euer I laid my leg ouer.

1656 S. Holland Don Zara ii. i. 62 This vile woman, who has most egregiously abused the truest and Noblest Servant that ever laid leg over Lady.

1684 T. D'Urfey Choice New Songs 15 Let no sneaking Rebel e're lift a Leg o're thee.

1744 ‘H. Polesworth’ Hist. John Bull: Pt. III xx. 49 Bob..took John's Right-Hand, full of Gold as it was, and kiss'd and slabber'd it, as though it had been the Lips of the Lass he had last laid his Leg over.

1969 in Victorian Stud. (1971) 15 61 Let the man have a pint, and let his wife go to the pictures once a week; and if he gets his leg over her, he's quite satisfied.

2003 Marie Claire Dec. 177/1 He's not much more than a serial-cursing Lad About Town looking to get his leg over the nearest woman.

(b) With over as an adverb.

ΚΠ

1975 J. Pidgeon Flame i. 21 Still quite a one for the birds is our Jack. He'll be getting his leg over in the pension queue.

1980 D. Morris Tribal Words (typescript) (O.E.D. Archive) 391 It is sometimes said of a player that ‘he played so well today, he must have got his leg over last night’.

1991 M. Curtin Plastic Tomato Cutter (1996) xviii. 144 Throwing the leg over at random is the very stuff of sport yet in certain marriages it is not done.

2007 Now 21 May 11 When I was stuck at home on painkillers, he was getting his leg over.

†f. to give leg (or legs): to flee or run away with stolen goods or contraband. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > run away or flee

fleec825

afleeeOE

atrina1000

atfleec1000

to run awayOE

to turn to or into flighta1225

to turn the ridgec1225

atrenc1275

atshakec1275

to give backa1300

flemec1300

startc1330

to take (on oneself) the flighta1500

to take the back upon oneselfa1500

fly1523

to take (also betake) (oneself) to one's legs1530

to flee one's way1535

to take to one's heels1548

flought?1567

fuge1573

to turn taila1586

to run off1628

to take flighta1639

refugea1641

to run for it1642

to take leg1740

to give (also take) leg-bail1751

bail1775

sherry1788

to pull foot1792

fugitate1830

to tail off (out)1830

to take to flight1840

to break (strike, etc.) for (the) tall timber1845

guy1879

to give leg (or legs)1883

rabbit1887

to do a guy1889

high-tail1908

to have it on one's toes1958

1883 Daily News 15 May 7/2 The best way is to make a snatch and give legs for it, it's better than loitering.

1896 H. N. Shore Old Foye Days 24 He had on a coat with..large pockets in the tails, and when the scuffle began he clapped the tub [of liquor] into it, and gave leg home as fast as he could pull foot.

g. Phrases with have (or an equivalent predicative prepositional phrase).

(a) not to have a leg to stand on and variants: to be without support; spec. (a) to have no grounding in truth or evidence; (b) to hold a weak position in an argument or be without the support of the law in a legal matter.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > contrary evidence > lack evidence [phrase]

not to have a leg to stand on1594

1594 T. Nashe Vnfortunate Traveller sig. C3 Faine he would have patcht out a polt-foote tale, but (God he knowes) it had not one true legge to stand on.

a1645 W. Laud Hist. Troubles & Tryal (1695) 485 My Lord's fine Simile hath neither Crutch nor Leg to stand on.

1757 Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 343/2 He is still a little remnant of a ministry that seems not to have more than half a leg to stand on.

1798 M. Hays Appeal to Men Great Brit. 117 The truth is that they have not a leg to stand upon, when examined upon the principles of reason.

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 8 As if the Yankee man were determined to leave the..brigadier without a leg to stand upon, as a lawyer would say.

1889 St. G. Mivart Truth 131 The latter hypothesis..has not a leg to stand on.

1944 E. S. Gardner Case of Black-eyed Blonde (1948) xvi. 158 Mildred had gone to a lawyer, and the lawyer had advised her that she didn't have a legal leg to stand on.

1973 J. Wainwright Pride of Pigs 179 You haven't a leg to stand on... You don't even out-rank me.

2003 H. Holt Death in Pract. (2004) xvii. 226 You can whistle for the money, Gillespie, you haven't got a leg to stand on.

†(b) Scottish. to have one's leg over the harrows: to be out of control. Also to get one's leg over the harrows. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1816 W. Scott Old Mortality viii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 191 ‘She has her leg ower the harrows now,’ said Cuddie, ‘stop her wha can.’

1829 W. Scott Jrnl. 28 Feb. (1946) 28 I hope the Duke of Wellington will keep the horned beast [sc. popery] well in hand, and not let her get her leg over the harrows.

(c) to have the legs of (also on): to be able to go faster than; to outstrip or beat in a race.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (transitive)] > gain (ground) upon > catch up or overtake > outstrip > by running

of-runOE

overruna1425

outrunc1460

fore-run1513

to have (also get) the heels of1649

to have the legs of (also on)1861

to give a stone and a beating to1885

1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. III. viii. 140 The beggar had the legs of me.

1886 A. C. Hobart Sketches Life xiii. 135 I knew we had the legs of her [sc. a gunboat].

1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey (1927) ii. xi. 147 He was not gaining, Wilfrid had the legs on him—to overtake him, he must run!

1994 Sporting Life 28 Oct. 15/6 His previous win, at Goodwood, was over this slightly longer trip and he should have the legs of his eight rivals here.

2004 J. Leigh & D. Woodhouse Football Lexicon (2006) 114 If a winger has the legs on his full back, he is just plain quicker.

†(d) to have a leg: (of a man) to be good-looking or physically attractive. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > have pleasing appearance [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of persons

to have a leg1879

1879 G. Meredith Egoist I. ii. 16 And, says Mrs Mountstuart, while grand phrases were mouthing round about him ‘You see he had a leg’.

1908 Westm. Gaz. 28 Mar. 2/2 He first wore breeches at the Coronation of Queen Victoria, and there was a curious anticipation of a phrase immortal in literature in his statement that his first Court suit revealed to him ‘that he had a leg’.

h. to keep one's legs: to remain standing upright; to keep oneself from falling or collapsing. Cf. to keep one's feet at foot n. and int. Phrases 2c(a). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > posture > action of standing up or rising > rise or be standing [verb (intransitive)] > be standing > without falling

to keep one's feet1579

to keep one's legs1639

1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iv. xxiv. 210 Here the steady ship had the better of it; and those souldiers who best kept their legges could best use their arms.

1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 5 They [sc. those who serve on a ship of war]..walk firm, where all other Creatures tumble; and seldom can keep their Legs long, when they get upon Terra Firma.

?1770 Adventures of Actor iii. 44 A thick mist overspread her eyes, and she could not keep her legs. She fell, and bit the earth.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xii. 233 The fighting men..were so much exhausted that they could scarcely keep their legs.

1858 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 345 Carried most of the way, not able to keep his legs.

1991 J. E. Woods tr. C. Ransmayr Terrors of Ice & Darkness vii. 61 The Tyrolean hunters take turns being seasick and can barely keep their legs.

i. to shake a loose (also free) leg: to do something indulgent or hedonistic; to act according to one's desires without being restrained by law, religious beliefs, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > be licentious [verb (intransitive)] > act or behave

ragea1400

to play the wanton1529

to play the wanton's part1529

ramp1530

wanton1589

wantonize1592

colta1599

wantonize1611

lasciviate1628

to shake a loose (also free) leg1743

Corinthianize1810

playboy1950

1743 J. Worsdale in T. Cibber Cibber & Sheridan 77 Joy, Joy to all Mortals..Who from Bailiffs, and Spungers, and Straw-beds are freed, And may shake a loose Leg now on each side the Tweed.

1836 W. H. Ainsworth Rookwood (rev. ed.) iii. xxiv. 309 While luck lasts, the highwayman shakes a loose leg!

1856 H. Mayhew Great World London 87 Those who love to ‘shake a free leg’, and lead a roving life, as they term it.

1908 ‘J. Oxenham’ Pearl of Pearl Island vi. 264 Meg's given me a holiday, and I'm going to shake a free leg in Guernsey.

1996 Times (Nexis) 21 Aug. Darling, in proper Catholicism you can shake such a loose leg. I was brought up among Liverpool Catholics. Out of Mass, into the pub.

j. to show a leg.

(a) Originally Navy. To get out of bed, esp. in order to perform a task or in readiness for the day ahead.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > going swiftly on foot > go swiftly on foot [verb (intransitive)]

to stir one's stumpsa1500

to leg it?1587

skelp1721

split1790

to show a leg1818

to go the pace1829

step1856

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > bed related to sleep or rest > go to bed or retire to rest [verb (intransitive)] > get up or rise

arisec950

riseOE

risec1175

uprisea1400

to dress upc1400

rouse1577

to get up1583

up1635

unroost1751

to turn out1801

to show a leg1818

to roll out1884

to hit the deck1918

1818 ‘A. Burton’ Adventures Johnny Newcome 47 ‘Hoy! shew a leg, and save a clue!—’ Rouse! rouse!—heave out!

1831 B. Hall Fragm. Voy. & Trav. I. 247 I say, Master Doughy, do you mean to relieve the deck tonight? Here it's almost two bells, and you have hardly shewn a leg yet.

1854 ‘C. Bede’ Further Adventures Mr. Verdant Green (ed. 2) vii. 61 He used to sing out, ‘You must show a leg, sir!’ and..kept on hammering at the door till I did.

1890 A. Conan Doyle Sign of Four viii. 145 He tapped at the winder—about three it would be. ‘Show a leg, matey,’ says he: ‘time to turn out guard.’ My old man woke up Jim..and away they went.

1916 ‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin ii. 19 They were all roused out of their warm hammocks by the strident shouting of the boatswain's mates... ‘All hands! turn out, turn out, turn out! show a leg, show a leg, show a leg!’

1969 ‘P. Alding’ Murder among Thieves xii. 12 ‘Come on, me sleeping beauty, rise and shine, show a leg,’ said P. C. Mottram, with indecent cheerfulness.

2004 Express (Nexis) 27 Mar. 63 Good morning campers, show a leg you lads and lasses, rub the sleep out of your eyes and prepare for another grand day of fun.

(b) To run off, escape; to move at speed. Now rare.

ΚΠ

1821 P. Egan Real Life in London I. 137 The Jontleman..grabb'd his pocket-handkerchief, and was after shewing a leg, when a little boy that kept his oglers upon 'em,..let the cat out of the bag by bawling—Stop thief! [Shewing a leg—or, as it is sometimes called, giving leg bail—making the best use of legs to escape detection].

1837 R. M. Bird Nick of Woods I. 177 I'll fight for you, or run for you, take scalp or cut stick, shake fist or show leg, anything in reason or out of reason.

1840 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 3rd Ser. 60 So we showed a leg right off, trotted down-stairs, and into the coach in no time.

1887 H. Caine Deemster I. 221 He'd better show a leg if he don't want the rat's tail.

1944 Truth (Brisbane) 27 Aug. 5/1 (caption) He's off! ‘Bubbles’ Pegg (Souths) shows a leg and gets well away from Jack Kelleway's tackle.

k. to stretch one's legs. Formerly also to stretch out one's legs.

(a) To walk, to exercise the legs by walking; esp. to take the opportunity to go for a walk, typically outside, during a break between periods of sitting still or of being in a confined space.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > for exercise or recreation

walka1375

to take a walk1581

to take one's walk(s)1581

to stretch one's legs1584

purmeinea1614

fetch, rarely make a walk1694

to streek one's shanks, wame1788

constitutionalize1852

1584 W. Phiston Welspring Wittie Conceites 77 Spensippus, beyng willed..to stretch out his legges with going, answered: that hee liued not by legges, but by vnderstanding.

1607 A. Gorges in S. Purchas Pilgrims (1625) IV. x. xiv. 1951 [We] went ashoare, to stretch our legs in the Isle of Flores.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. v. 205 I would often fetch a walke, to stretch my legs, that were stifled with a stumbling beast.

1779 G. Keate Sketches from Nature (ed. 2) II. 208 I was glad after so long a confinement, to stretch my legs, and determined to walk home.

1798 Bell's Weekly Messenger 8 Apr. 110/2 It would be rather cruel to debar Jackey Bull the privilege of stretching his legs a bit on the Lord's-day.

1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby v. 40 Mr. Squeers got down at almost every stage—to stretch his legs as he said.

1872 Earl of Pembroke & G. H. Kingsley South Sea Bubbles i. 36 About every hour we stopped to change horses, when we took the opportunity to stretch our legs.

1899 J. Rodway In Guiana Wilds 30 Allan..began to feel cramped from remaining so long in one position; he wanted to stretch his legs.

1908 S. Murray Seven Legs Across Seas vi. iv. 308 We have reached Ghoom, the highest point on the line, where more passengers leave and others get out of the coaches to stretch their legs.

1968 D. Moraes My Son's Father ii. 21 Only when I climbed out to stretch my legs with my father..did I discover that the entire external length of the train.

2014 Fraser Coast (Queensland) Chron. (Nexis) 7 June 39 We stretched our legs along the long seafront of Herne Bay.

†(b) To increase the speed of one's walking; to walk quickly, to run. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (intransitive)] > increase speed > in walking or running

to set foot forward1548

to stretch one's legs1653

1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler i. 1 I have stretch'd my legs up Tottenham Hil to overtake you.

1838 F. Maceroni Memoirs I. 469 Dolgorouky..being a huge, gigantic fellow, stretched out his legs so as to put little Durant literally upon the trot.

l. to take (also †betake) (†oneself) to one's legs: to run away, flee; (more generally) to run. Formerly also †to take leg. Cf. to take to one's heels at heel n.¹ and int. Phrases 2d(b).

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > run away or flee

fleec825

afleeeOE

atrina1000

atfleec1000

to run awayOE

to turn to or into flighta1225

to turn the ridgec1225

atrenc1275

atshakec1275

to give backa1300

flemec1300

startc1330

to take (on oneself) the flighta1500

to take the back upon oneselfa1500

fly1523

to take (also betake) (oneself) to one's legs1530

to flee one's way1535

to take to one's heels1548

flought?1567

fuge1573

to turn taila1586

to run off1628

to take flighta1639

refugea1641

to run for it1642

to take leg1740

to give (also take) leg-bail1751

bail1775

sherry1788

to pull foot1792

fugitate1830

to tail off (out)1830

to take to flight1840

to break (strike, etc.) for (the) tall timber1845

guy1879

to give leg (or legs)1883

rabbit1887

to do a guy1889

high-tail1908

to have it on one's toes1958

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 749/1 I take me to my legges, I flye a waye, je me mets en fuyte.

1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. iv. 34 Come knock and enter, and no sooner in, But euery man betake him to his legs.

1635 L. Foxe North-west Fox 25 He presently tooke to his legges and runne away.

1740 L. Whyte Poems 94 Ralph thus involv'd in Debt took Leg.

1854 H. A. Stern Dawnings Light in East i. 4 The driver, dreading the whip which I held in my hand, betook himself to his legs, and was off in an instant.

1861 H. A. Jacobs Incidents Life Slave Girl iv. 17 [He] was a perfect coward when a tussle ensued between him and white boys of his own size. On such occasions he always took to his legs.

1887 F. E. Brooks in W. T. Ross Voice Culture & Elocution (rev. ed.) 248 On either side the fat hens take leg, While others announce a new-laid egg.

1936 Manch. Guardian 4 May 13/6 The younger enthusiasts took to their legs and ran with the procession along Portland Street.

2000 J. Tulloch Season Ticket iii. 70 They ran through the pouring rain, two of them falling, but immediately picking themselves up again and taking to their legs.

m. to break the leg: see break v. 7a. to feel one's legs: see feel v. Phrases 3. to give a person a dead leg: see dead leg n. 3. to hang a leg: see hang v. 4c. to pull a person's leg: see pull v. Phrases 7a. to put one's best leg first and variants: see best adj., n.¹, and adv. Phrases 1c(b)(ii). to put one's best leg forward and variants: see best adj., n.¹, and adv. Phrases 1c(b)(i). to recover one's legs: see recover v.¹ 14c. to shake a leg: see shake v. 6f. to talk the hind leg off a donkey and variants: see talk v. 10.

P4. Miscellaneous phrases.

a. to be tied by the leg: to be rendered incapable of action or be prevented from doing something by circumstance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > restriction of free action > be constrained in free action [verb (intransitive)]

to be tied by the leg1692

lock-step1967

society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restriction or limitation > be restricted or limited [verb (intransitive)] > be restricted in free action

to be tied by the leg1692

1692 Life William Fuller 23 Sir, says our Baronet, I am so tied by the Leg, that I despair of ever getting free from the daily Importunities of my good Friends here.

1781 J. Woodforde Diary 22 Aug. (1924) I. 319 I found..him rather low still, and fretting himself about being so tyed by the leg, in dancing backward and forward to Townshends with his great Company.

1832 F. Trollope Domest. Manners Amer. (ed. 2) I. xviii. 285 We should be obliged to pass the whole of Monday there, as the coach..would not arrive..till Tuesday morning. Thus..we were to be tied by the leg for four-and-twenty hours.

1931 J. Buchan Blanket of Dark (1933) xi. 241 While he was tied by the leg in Little Greece, what had become of the girl?

1999 P. O'Brian Blue at Mizzen (2000) x. 261 I am tied by the leg, you know. I am engaged, committed, to the Chilean government.

†b. to fight at the leg: to do something underhand or unsporting in order to gain an advantage. Cf. low blow n. at low adj. and n.² Compounds 3. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue at Leg To fight at the leg, to take unfair advantages, it being held unfair by back sword players to strike at the leg.

1845 ‘H. Hieover’ Stable Talk & Table Talk I. 17 [Blacklegging] has disgusted and driven so many men of family, rank, and wealth from the turf, from finding they must either be pigeoned, or, like the rest, ‘fight at the leg’ themselves.

c. Cricket.

(a) leg before wicket: a mode of dismissal in which the batter is judged to have obstructed, with the leg (or another part of the body) rather than the bat, a ball which would otherwise have hit the wicket. Used chiefly as an adverbial or adjectival phrase describing a batter's dismissal in this way. Abbreviated l.b.w.This mode of dismissal was introduced in 1774, probably to prevent batters from intentionally blocking a ball which might otherwise have hit the wicket, though by 1795 it had been extended to encompass accidental obstruction. Many slight modifications have been made to the Law since then.

Under the current Law, the batter's hands and gloves are considered part of the bat when holding it.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > dismissal of batsman > [adjective] > manner of dismissal

b.1769

leg before wicket1795

lbw1843

caught and bowled1875

spreadeagled1920

1774 Laws of Cricket (Ridley) 12 Or if the striker puts his Leg before the Wicket with a Design to stop the Ball, and actually prevents the Ball from hitting his Wicket by it [he is out].]

1795 S. Britcher Compl. List Grand Matches Cricket 28 (scorecard) Beldam..35 Leg before Wicket.

1850 ‘Bat’ Cricketer's Man. (rev. ed.) 47 The hitter is given out as..‘leg before wicket’.

1946 Times of India 3 June 10/4 Hill snicked Mankad through the slips to the boundary and in the next over survived a leg-before-wicket appeal from Shinde.

1985 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 26 Jan. 10/3 Lewis..swatted at a shortish delivery from Kelvin Williams, and was plumb leg before wicket at 52 for four.

2003 Newcastle (Austral.) Herald (Nexis) 6 Dec. 128 Justin Langer was dismissed leg before wicket 20 minutes into another rain-shortened day.

(b) leg before: = leg before wicket at Phrases 4c(a).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > other batting actions

backing-up1816

slip1833

wrist-play1851

leg before1867

follow-through1891

gardening1897

wrist-work1898

whip1903

back-lift1912

1867 Australasian 9 Mar. 300/4 The apparent sincerity of a..wicket-keeper, when appealing for a ‘leg before’, or a ‘bum’.

1882 Daily Tel. 20 May Blackham was out leg before to Lillywhite.

1927 Scotsman 1 Dec. 15/5 When play was restarted Staples obtained a leg-before decision against Siedle at 65.

1969 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (ed. 106) 679 The use of pads instead of the bat was prevalent with six batsmen trapped leg before in the first innings.

2001 Times 14 Sept. 19/5 Hemp fell leg-before, pushing half-forward to Dean, before rain set in after lunch.

d. a leg in the full: see full adj., n.², and adv. Phrases 2e(a)(iii). an arm and a leg: see arm n.¹ Phrases 3f. the boot is on the other leg, the boot is on the wrong leg, to make one boot serve for either leg: see boot n.³ 1b. to have a bone in one's leg: see bone n.¹ Phrases 1f(b).

Compounds

C1. General attributive.

leg ache n.

ΚΠ

1597 W. Langham Garden of Health 614 (table) Legge ache.

1859 S. S. Madders Mabel Owen I. i. 17 Oh, those seasons of head ache and leg-ache.

1933 Scotsman 22 Aug. 6/5 If this new system does all that is claimed for it, driving should be even more greatly simplified and leg-ache..diminished.

2014 Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Nexis) 15 Nov. 18 All staff..are also now fully trained in the technique of pregnancy massage which is great for..easing lower back pain and leg ache.

leg amputation n.

ΚΠ

1782 J. Aitken Elements Theory & Pract. Physic & Surg. II. 502 Fore-arm amputation has the same speciality with leg-amputation.

1882 Jrnl. Statist. Soc. 45 479 97 cases of thigh and leg amputation, of which 26 died.

1960 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 22 Oct. 1215/1 A study of 35 leg-amputation specimens by these authors revealed no evidence in any instance of the acute arterial lesions described by Buerger.

2014 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 26 July 23 Clinic staff see about 350 patients a month, for issues ranging from foot ulcers to infections that require leg amputations.

leg amputee n.

ΚΠ

1922 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 21 Jan. 107/2 Arm and leg amputees can manage motor cars, even without any special fittings.

1983 Times 2 Dec. 15/7 The first thing a physiotherapist teaches a leg amputee is how to get up.

2014 N.Y. Post (Nexis) 13 Sept. 10 The first double leg amputee to compete in the Olympics.

leg cramp n.

ΚΠ

1869 Liverpool Mercury 4 Sept. A swimmer seized with leg-cramp would instinctively throw his head as far back as it would go.

1955 Washington Post 3 July e2/3 (headline) New drug relives leg cramp sufferers.

2010 Daily Mirror (Nexis) 27 Oct. (Features section) 38 Nocturnal leg cramps affect 13 million of us a year and are one of the five main factors that cause us to wake in the night.

leg garment n.

ΚΠ

1839 H. R. Schoolcraft Algic Researches II. 104 I believe..that this is the moon in which fire attracts, and I fear your foot and leg garments have been drawn in.

1962 Times of India 3 Aug. 6/4 A girl's leg-garments are known by their varying lengths.

2008 B. Evaristo Blonde Roots (2009) 141 Upon their bottom halves were leg garments that came down to the knee, in some cases tied with ribbons!

leg hair n.

ΚΠ

1872 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 199/2 The loss of all my leg-hair.

1975 Ebony July 6/2 (advt.) We took our time in developing the most effective, convenient and economical leg hair remover we could create.

2004 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) (Nexis) 17 Dec. 3 Five brave men from Barclays Capital in Hong Kong offered to have their leg hair removed for charity - right in the middle of the office and in front of their colleagues.

leg injury n.

ΚΠ

1842 Lancet 2 Index 898/2 Clarke's apparatus for leg injuries.

1943 Billboard 21 Aug. 12/3 He fell asleep as he was driving home, his car striking a safety zone post. He was reported as having a fractured nose, possible skull fracture and leg injuries.

2002 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 5 Nov. c16 Former Olympic ski champion Hermann Maier might miss the entire ski season while recovering from a leg injury but has no plans to retire.

leg length n.

ΚΠ

1881 Clothier & Furnisher (N.Y.) Aug. 13/1 Small pantaloons must be out about one-half an inch shorter than the full leg length.

1924 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 25 Oct. 778/1 Adjustable front seats to accommodate the particular requirements as to leg length, and so forth, of the individual occupants.

2004 Independent (Nexis) 5 May (Features section) 11 Steudel and Tilken measured the oxygen consumption of 21 volunteers (of varying leg lengths) while they pounded away on a treadmill.

leg meat n.

ΚΠ

1889 Agric. Sci. 3 158 Salers' beef is usually the choicest leg meat; the legs are long and very strong of bone.

1954 Life 25 Jan. 39 (advt.) Then all the breast and leg meat carefully taken from the bones and diced.

2006 Time Out N.Y. 3 Aug. 32/4 Neither a delicious bed of chickpeas..nor the slow cooking could cover up the leg meat's inherent blandness and dryness.

leg muscle n.

ΚΠ

1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια x. xxxix. 815 The fift and last Extender is called Tibiaeus posticus, the hinder Leg-muscle.

1854 J. Wood in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. 115/1 Upon it are implanted the large posterior leg muscles, and in the sedentary position the trunk is supported by it.

1980 R. Mayer 1937 Newark Bears xi. 145 Much of his difficulties that year could be attributed to injuries—a spike wound to his left hand during spring training and a torn leg muscle later in the season.

2008 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 20 Aug. c19/1 The way his leg muscle inserts into the bone..could give Bolt unexpected explosive strength.

leg pain n.

ΚΠ

1675 G. Harvey Dis. of London iii. 21 Scorbutick Leg-pains, either haunt the Tendons about the Knee and Ancle, or the Membranes of the Muscles.

1883 Clinique 4 442 Flannel bandages applied to the legs relieved her of the leg-pain.

1964 Pop. Mech. Sept. 204/2 Another of Doctor Naide's leg-pain patients was a 68-year old man whose favorite TV position was with his leg thrown over the arm of the sofa.

2006 RSDSA Rev. Summer 4/3 Osteoarthritis patients with CRPS/RSD-like symptoms (chronic severe leg pain, swelling, disuse), had no nerve injuries.

leg problem n.

ΚΠ

1947 Times Pict. (Dublin) 22 Feb. 6/4 There comes a day when the teen-age girl..realises that legs red with cold or black with bruises are not attractive—and cannot be tucked out of sight. That is when you have to face various leg problems.

1965 Chicago Daily Defender 9 Aug. 25/3 This year's Stars and Stripes victor, five-year-old Marlin Bay..is also a comebacker, idled for 51 weeks with leg problems.

2014 Daily Mirror (Nexis) 27 Nov. 30 His leg problem was believed to have been a reoccurrence of an old break he suffered during riots inside Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight in 1969.

leg ulcer n.

ΚΠ

1838 Med. Examiner 28 Feb. 87 The subject was 66 years of age, and had suffered from leg ulcers for five years.

1952 Times Lit. Suppl. 29 Feb. 159/3 Harrowing descriptions of such things as leg ulcers which have to be scooped out with a spoon.

2001 Pulse (Nexis) 1 Dec. 56 There is insufficient evidence to suggest that anabolic steroids such as stanozolol decrease recurrence rates in leg ulcers.

leg vein n.

ΚΠ

1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια ii. viii. 75/3 The inner leg-veine call Tibica, which is diuersly carried under the skin.

1848 F. Clater Every Man his Own Cattle Doctor (ed. 10) 353 The leg vein, however, is not easily seen in a lean pig.

1952 Sci. News Let. 12 Apr. 231/2 (heading) Tall men more likely to get leg vein clot.

2002 Times 11 Feb. ii. 22/1 Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a main leg vein.

leg wound n.

ΚΠ

1856 Lancaster Gaz. 1 Nov. 8/1 The leg wound was the most serious, which was about an inch in length.

1914 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 24 Oct. 729/2 Foot amputated, and leg wound cleaned up thoroughly.

2006 Hull Daily Mail (Nexis) 23 Oct. 10 The pain and misery that put her life on hold after a leg wound became infected have gone.

C2.

leg art n. slang (originally U.S.) the display of attractive (young) women in revealing costumes, esp. in photographs.

ΚΠ

1929 Variety 16 Jan. 21/4 Jack Campbell, managing editor of the Los Angeles Evening Herald, has issued a stop order on publication of semi-nude art that heretofore characterized this sheet as a ‘leg art’ medium.

1939 Collier's 23 Sept. 64/3 Because Betty had appeared in a film a publicity man named Pete told her to come to Bowers' still studio for ‘leg art.’

1958 Spectator 10 Oct. 481/1 The Cameo Royal, the leg-art cinema by London's Leicester Square.

1999 T. P. Doherty Pre-code Hollywood v. 112 Hays issued the strict guidelines on the ‘leg art’ and cleavage in studio publicity stills.

leg bath n. [originally after post-classical Latin pediluvium pediluvium n.] a bath in which one or both of the legs can be washed or soaked, esp. for medicinal purposes; a washing or bathing of the legs; cf. pediluvium n.

ΚΠ

1765 Monthly Rev. Aug. 124 A pediluvium or leg-bath of warm water..instantaneously removed the cough.

1853 Househ. Words 6 311/1 The horses broke out into a profuse sweat afterwards; I found this the case in a less degree with the leg bath, but I did not find that the horses were the worse for it.

1857 Water-cure Jrnl. 23 115/1 We placed the patient in a leg bath, water covering his knees at 70º.

1922 Domest. Engin. 28 Jan. 163/2 There are special foot, arm and leg baths, which can be adjusted so that a continuously rotating body of water at any required temperature may be kept in contact.

2009 Sunday Times (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 9 Aug. She was an expert at giving newborn babies a leg bath.

† leg bird n. English regional (Yorkshire) Obsolete rare the sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus.

ΚΠ

1848 Zoologist 6 2290 Provincial names of birds in Yorkshire... The sedge warbler, a ‘leg bird’.

leg bone n. any of the long bones of the leg; spec. (in anatomy) the tibia, the shin bone; (in butchery also) the femur, the thigh bone.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > structural parts > bone or bones > bones of arm or leg > bones of leg > [noun] > bones of lower leg > tibia

shankOE

shinbonec1000

leg bone1615

tibia1726

1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 1003 The whirle and the Leg-bone are ioyned by adarticulation.

1788 J. Trusler Honours of Table 70 The thigh-bone [of a goose]..may be easily divided in the joint from the leg-bone, or drum-stick, as it is called.

1839 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Agric. (ed. 4) 965 The tibia or leg bone is usually, in horsemen's language, called the thigh.

1919 Bull. U.S. Bureau Labor Statist. No. 252. 1096 The hind quarter is separated into two cuts, round and loin, by cutting through the muscle and meat in front of the hind leg from the stifle joint along the leg bone to the hip or socket joint.

2009 H. Hasan Bone Cancer ii. 14 In some cases, the first sign of osteosarcoma is a broken arm or leg bone.

leg boot n. (a) a boot which reaches the knee; (b) a protective boot for a horse which covers the leg between the knee and hoof; cf. boot n.³ 5.

ΚΠ

1780 Adam's Weekly Courant 11 Apr. 1/2 (advt.) Men's best London leg boots.

1855 Catal. Wks. Exhib. Brit. Sect., Paris Universal Exhib. 238/2 Web Boots of all widths, for Fetlocks, Leg Boots, and Speedy-Cut Boots.

1920 Scotsman 14 Dec. 8/4 His impersonation of the impecunious Duke, in three-cornered hat, leg-boots and spurs..is one that appeals with the directness and certainty of genuine art.

2002 Equus Mar. 21/1 Leg boots can help protect against inadvertent knocks and blows.

leg brace n. a rigid structure attached to a leg (of a device or of a person) to strengthen or provide support.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > other tools and equipment

pollhache1324

poleaxe1356

muckrake1366

pestlea1382

botea1450

staff1459

press-board1558

reel1593

water crane1658

lathekin1659

tower1662

dressing hook1683

liner1683

hovel1686

flax-brake1688

nipper1688

horse1728

tap1797

feather-stick1824

bow1839

safety belt1840

economizer1841

throttle damper1849

cleat1854

leg brace1857

bark-peeler1862

pugging screw1862

nail driver1863

spool1864

turntable1865

ovate1872

tension bar1879

icebreaker1881

spreader1881

toucher1881

window pole1888

mushroom head1890

rat1894

slackline1896

auger1897

latch hook1900

thimble1901

horse1904

pipe jack1909

mulcher1910

hand plate1911

splashguard1917

cheese-cutter1927

airbrasive1945

impactor1945

fogger1946

the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > surgical supports > [noun] > calliper for leg

iron1697

leg splint1824

leg brace1857

calliper1876

1857 U.S. Patent 18,377 1/1 By this last movement, the back and leg brace F is brought under the seat [of the folding chair] in the position shown.

1862 Med. & Surg. Reporter 1 Mar. 506/1 The entire foot-piece is joined by the iron stirrup to the leg-brace, as in the apparatus for equinus.

1991 Photo Answers May 84 (advt.) Extra rigid with..spirit level, quick release and strong polycarbonate leg brace.

2001 Big Issue 20 Aug. 28/1 An accident left Morgan using leg-braces.

leg business n. slang (originally U.S.) (a) theatrical performances featuring dancing girls in revealing costumes; dancing of this kind; cf. leg show n.; (b) ballet dancing, esp. as a profession; cf. leg piece n. (b).

ΚΠ

1867 Galaxy Aug. 444 Leo hates the leg business as much as anybody, but, bless you, nothing else pays now-a-days, so what can she do?

1867 Galaxy Aug. 444 Either ballet, or heroic verse; the ‘leg business’ or the brain business.

1871 A. Edwardes Ought we to visit Her? III. i. 11 She was..in the ‘Leg Business’ [sc. she worked as a ballet-dancer], your Grace.

1934 Times of India 1 Sept. 9/7 [The title] ‘Hips, Hips, Hooray!’..may lead you to expect another of those super musical leg displays in which Hollywood loves to indulge. Actually the leg business doesn't loom large at all.

1994 F. E. Dudden Women in Amer. Theatre vii. 173 Logan reopened her critique of the leg business in May 1869, as Thompson's British Blondes were concluding their highly successful New York season.

leg bye n. Cricket a run scored from a delivery that has deflected off a part of the batter’s body (apart from a hand holding the bat) without touching the bat, credited to the batting side as an extra (extra n. 1); cf. bye n.¹ 1a.In the Laws of Cricket, the batter’s hands are considered part of the bat when holding it.

ΚΠ

1844 Hampshire Tel. & Sussex Chron. 22 July They only scored four wide balls and one bye, which was a leg bye.

1910 Manch. Guardian 19 Aug. 6/1 The score of 190 includes only one ‘extra’, and that a leg bye.

2003 Eastern Eye 14 Feb. 74/1 With Bangladesh roared on by some 3,000 of their own nationals who work in Malaysia, they gained victory with a leg bye off the final ball of the match.

leg chair n. rare a chair which allows the person seated to stretch out their legs for comfort.

ΚΠ

1909 Westm. Gaz. 30 Dec. 2/1 I stretched my wearied limbs in the luxurious depth of a leg-chair.

1945 National Directory of Commodity Specif. (U.S. Department of Commerce) 245/1 Covers three types: (A) Rotary, army chair, (C) stenographic chair, and (D) leg chair, without arms.

leg curl n. an exercise in which the heel (with or without added weights) is drawn up to the buttocks, typically performed using both legs whilst lying face downwards on an exercise bench fitted with a bar that the heels hook under, lift, and slowly lower.

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1958 Reno (Nevada) Evening Gaz. 16 Apr. 7/5 (advt.) The finest and newest, most modern equipment made... Leg Curl Machine, Leg Stride Machine, Leg Extension Machine [etc.].

1959 Athletic Jrnl. Sept. 77/1 Leg curls. Use iron boots (5 pound weights on each boot). This exercise develops the biceps femoris and the hamstring muscles.

1986 S. Grafton C is for Corpse i. 3 He was doing leg curls, facedown on the bench next to mine.

2003 Muscle & Fitness Jan. 54/1 I'd suggest doing..more isolation exercises in the second session—leg extensions, leg curls, inner/outer thighs.

leg dollar n. Scottish (now historical) a Dutch silver ducat; also called legged dollar (see legged adj. Compounds).The name derives from the depiction on one side of the coin of a soldier, holding a shield which obscures his left leg, meaning that the picture appears to be of a one-legged man. The coin appears to have been current in Scotland from the mid 17th cent. and fallen out of use shortly after the Act of Union (1707); cf. rix-dollar n.

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1667 in R. W. Cochran-Patrick Rec. Coinage Scotl. (1876) II. 155 To..consider the value of those dollors commonly called leg dollors and to consider what prejudice the countrey sustaines by the importation thairof.

1702 T. Morer Short Acct. Scotl. 22 But now to save trouble, they divide 'em into two sorts, the Rix-Dollar at 4 s. 10d. and the Leg-Dollar at 4s. 8d.

1729 T. Prior Observ. Coin 34 The Patagon Leg-dollar, or Rix-dollar of Holland, or Piece of 50 Stivers.

1859 Coll. Maine Hist. Soc. 6 134 It was sometimes called the ‘leg dollar’, from the fact, as is supposed, of the military figure upon it being on foot, and showing only one leg.

1994 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 21 Apr. 2 The leg dollar, the Scots 4-merk piece, the French silver crown and the cross dollar were each worth £2.90.

2011 M. Shutty One Coin is Never Enough xv. 177 (caption) A Dutch Ducaton (or ‘leg dollar’) from unknown sea salvage.

leg drive n. Sport (originally Rowing) use of the legs to drive oneself forwards or push; (also) forward momentum or power imparted by the use of the legs in this way.

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society > travel > travel by water > propelling boat by oars, paddle, or pole > [noun] > rowing > drive imparted by rower's legs

leg drive1885

1885 Cambr. Rev. 3 June 357/2 Emmanuel seem to have settled down at last and are improving, but want more leg drive.

1917 N.Y. Times 3 June (Sports section) 3/2 An expert American waterman defends the leg drive as an important feature of the crawl swimming stroke.

1991 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 9 June 10 f Specifically, how does leg drive contribute to a well-rounded golf swing, and what can it do for your distance?

2014 Irish Daily Mail (Nexis) 11 Jan. 73 Dynamic leg drive in the tackle and when clearing out the breakdown will have Leinster back looking the class side they can be.

leg extension n. (a) a section that attaches to or fits inside a leg of an object allowing it to extend to a desired length; (b) an act or the action of straightening (and typically raising) one's leg or legs; (now esp.) an exercise performed seated on an exercise machine with a weighted bar that the shins hook under, lift, and slowly lower.

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1865 Amer. Artisan 9 Aug. 220/1 Surgeon's Operating-table... Provided with a hinged portion..and hinged leg-extensions.

1866 G. Techow Man. Gymnastic Exercises iii. ii. 133 Lying on a Table. Practise arm and leg extensions in slow time.

1892 C. J. Enebuske Progressive Gymnastic Day's Orders 55/1 Slow leg-extension backward.

1937 Washington Post 29 Aug. 2/5 I did a back-bend leg extension and split while twirling my baton.

1946 Pop. Photogr. June 76/3 A twist of the knurled ring locks the leg extensions in any one of adjustable heights from 33 to 60 inches.

1958 Reno (Nevada) Evening Gaz. 16 Apr. 7/5 (advt.) The finest and newest, most modern equipment made... Leg Curl Machine, Leg Stride Machine, Leg Extension Machine [etc.].

1986 Washington Post (Nexis) 7 Oct. z15 When selecting a stationary bicycle, look for durability, comfort and ample room for full leg extension.

1997 Product News Network (Nexis) 1 Jan. The scrolled steel seat is precision die formed... Telescopic leg extensions are an important adjustment feature.

2014 W. Peveler Triathlon Training Fund. xi. 163 Before beginning leg extensions ensure that the machine you are working on is set up specifically for you.

† leg-foot n. Obsolete the base of a pole or post.

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1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona iii. 29 Old daft limmers sit at a leg-foot [of a gibbet] and spae their fortunes.

† leg-ill n. Obsolete any of various conditions causing lameness in sheep.

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1807 J. Hogg Shepherd's Guide 163 The Leg-ill being an accommodating name, it is often blamed by shepherds for every sheep that is rendered lame, whether by accident or disease.

1918 T. L. Stedman Pract. Med. Dict. (U.S. ed. 5) 535/2 Leg-ill, an inflammation of the hoof, affecting especially the interdigital spaces, in the sheep.

leg iron n. (usually in plural) (a) a shackle or fetter for the leg; cf. iron n.¹ 2b (b) a metal brace or splint, used esp. to support or straighten the leg; = iron n.¹ 16.

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society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [noun] > bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) > for the feet or legs

copsa700

fetterc800

gyvec1275

bolt1483

boysc1485

hose-ring?1515

hopshacklea1568

gin?1587

leg ring1606

hamper1613

shacklock1613

wife1616

pedicle1628

leg iron1779

wife1811

leg lock1815

ankle ring1823

anklet1835

hopple1888

Oregon boot1892

society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [adjective] > bound, fettered, or shackled > by the feet or legs

gyved1382

leg iron1779

slanged1819

leg-ironed1848

1779 E. Allen Narr. Captivity 9 The hand-cuff was of a common size, and form, but my leg irons (I should imagine) would weight 30 pounds.

1794 T. Sheldrake Observ. Causes Distortion Legs Children 6 Another method of treating this disease [sc. club foot] has been by fixing leg-irons of various constructions upon the leg.

1857 Med. Times & Gaz. 12 Sept. 263/2 The knee-joint must be kept stiff during the act of progression by a knee-cap connected with the leg-iron.

1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations xvi, in All Year Round 2 Feb. 385/1 A convict's leg-iron which had been filed asunder.

1949 Manch. Guardian 14 Feb. 3/2 On the instructions of his commanding officer, he was handcuffed and put in leg-irons.

1987 P. Wright & P. Greengrass Spycatcher ii. 12 I developed rickets and wore leg irons until practically into my teens.

2005 C. Hardyment Malory (2006) viii. 163 Joan was..hobbled with leg irons in a dark cell.

leg-ironed adj. that has been put in leg irons; shackled or fettered by the legs; cf. ironed adj. 3.

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society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [adjective] > bound, fettered, or shackled > by the feet or legs

gyved1382

leg iron1779

slanged1819

leg-ironed1848

1848 Liberator 30 June 101/2 I was also committed to prison, and there I remained, hand-cuffed and leg-ironed, until near the middle of August.

1884 E. Yates Recoll. & Experiences I. iii. 115 Convicts..handcuffed and leg-ironed.

1932 Times of India 27 May 10/3 The constables with their prisoner, who was securely handcuffed and leg-ironed, boarded the 36 Up Express on Sunday night.

2010 Observer 3 Jan. 30/5 The confession naming Bennett is one of five they made me write after I was handcuffed, leg-ironed, beaten over the head [etc.].

leg knife n. a knife carried on the leg, usually for concealment.

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1834 C. F. Hoffman Let. 12 Mar. in Winter in West (1835) II. 75 After I had stuck my leg-knife into the chine of the other.

1915 J. Conrad Victory (1920) iv. ix. 412 Heyst got up briskly, with a smile of such enigmatic and despairing character that Mr. Secretary Ricardo..made a slight crouching start, as if to dive under the table for his leg-knife.

2003 T. Pierce Trickster's Choice ix. 199 She..moved one of her leg knives up under her waistband at the middle of her back, where she could reach it in a hurry.

leg lift n. [originally after German Beinheben (1883 in the source translated in quot. 1887, or earlier)] any of various exercises in which one or both legs are slowly lifted and lowered, now typically one performed keeping both legs straight whilst lying on one's back; also with modifying word specifying the position of the body, as side, standing, etc.

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1887 W. Mendelson tr. J. Schreiber Man.Treatm. by Massage 245 (caption) The leg-lift—forward... The leg-lift—backward.

1942 Coe College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Cosmos 2 Dec. 2/2 Hope those leg-lifts, chin-ups and rolls will do something for me besides backaches and dislocated knee Joints.

1975 Skiing Oct. 4/1 (caption) Side leg lifts look easy—until you try them in a circuit.

1980 M. F. Weisenfeld & B. Burr Runners' Repair Man. iv. 46 Standing Leg Lifts. Strengthens quadriceps.

2010 L. Schlossberg Life in Miniature xxxiv. 268 I lie on the..carpet, practicing sit-ups and leg lifts, counting out the seconds slowly.

leg lock n. (a) (usually in plural) = leg iron n. (a); (b) Wrestling a hold in which a wrestler immobilizes or traps an opponent's legs; (also more generally) any method of holding or restraining someone in this way.

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society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [noun] > bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) > for the feet or legs

copsa700

fetterc800

gyvec1275

bolt1483

boysc1485

hose-ring?1515

hopshacklea1568

gin?1587

leg ring1606

hamper1613

shacklock1613

wife1616

pedicle1628

leg iron1779

wife1811

leg lock1815

ankle ring1823

anklet1835

hopple1888

Oregon boot1892

1815 Rep. Comm. Madhouses Eng. 150 in Parl. Papers 1814–15 (H.C. 296) IV. 801 The chain that fastened the neck of the patient to the iron stanchion, as well as the leg-lock, were still used.

1860 J. C. Byrne Undercurrents Overlooked II. 218 Manacles and chains, whips and leg-locks.

1882 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 25 Dec. 8/3 Acton working alternatively with the body and arm, or leg lock, and Acton had his man nearly on his back again, but Whistler squirmed out and broke clear.

1936 ‘R. Hyde’ Passport to Hell 65 No leglocks are used. He [sc. the convict] can sit, stand, or lie, as he pleases.

1974 T. Brooke-Taylor Goodies File 37 Grab her in a double leg-lock with a back arm twist.

2014 New Yorker 1 Sept. 46/1 Cassandro spun each student into an upturned paquetito—the strangely simple leg lock he had used to defeat Magno.

leg-maker n. †(a) (in quot. a1500, perhaps) a maker of leggings (obsolete); (b) a maker of artificial legs.Quot. a1500 apparently shows a mistaken literal gloss of classical Latin tibiārius maker of reed pipes.

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society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > producer > makers of other articles > [noun] > of other specific finished articles

anchorsmith1296

paliser1315

sheather1379

buckler-maker1415

barrow-maker1468

chess-maker1481

belt maker1483

leg-makera1500

reel-makera1500

card maker1511

lattice-maker1550

pale cleaver1578

bead-maker1580

boss-maker1580

balloonier1598

bilbo-smith1632

block-makera1687

pen-makera1703

pipe-maker1766

platemaker1772

stickman1786

safe maker?1789

matchmaker1833

chipmaker1836

labelmaker1844

bandagist1859

hurdler1874

moon cutter1883

tie-maker1901

a1500 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 686/29 (MED) Hic tibiarius, legmaker.

1776 Morning Post 5 Dec. We hear for certainty, that Mr. Patence..is made Leg-maker in ordinary to our English Aristophanes [sc. the dramatist and actor Samuel Foote, who lost one of his legs in 1766 after falling from his horse.]!

1889 Boston Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 16 May 483/1 The efforts of the leg-maker are hampered by bungling surgery.

2009 Dalby (Queensland) Herald (Nexis) 1 May 25 I remember the first day I got home from the leg-makers with my new leg—I had a big smile on my face—like I knew I was ready to rumble.

† leg money n. Obsolete a payment required for the removal of leg irons.

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society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [noun] > payment for removal of leg-irons

leg money1812

1812 Examiner 7 Sept. 575/1 If not able to pay leg money, or a fee for knocking off the irons [at Newgate].

leg muff n. [ < leg n. + muff n.¹] (a) a downy tuft of feathers on the leg of a bird, as in certain hummingbirds and domestic pigeons; (b) an item of clothing worn by women to keep the leg warm.

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1862 J. G. Wood Illustr. Nat. Hist. (new ed.) II. 237 The Peruvian Racket-tail, a bird which may be distinguished by the rusty-red colour of the leg-muffs.

1914 Textile Amer. Feb. 18/3 Leg muffs of silk and fur are being worn in Paris.

1939 C. A. Naether Bk. of Pigeon vii. 137 Fireback pigeons breed fairly true... Their leg-muffs should be long.

1990 S. J. Bodio Aloft ii. 10 Each bird had white wings and leg muffs, and a complicated..marking in white on its face.

2010 D. R. Strahan Throwaways i. 17 They wore fur jackets, leg muffs, hoods; all that kind of stuff.

leg pad n. Cricket each of a pair of padded coverings worn by batters and wicketkeepers to protect the ankle, shin and knee; now usually shortened to pad (see pad n.² 9).

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > equipment > [noun] > protective equipment

pad1843

leg guard1844

leg pad1844

legging1851

cricket box1859

box1950

1844 Bell's Life in London 6 Oct. Day was one of the first to make his appearance at the wicket, well padded, and wearing a leg pad on his left arm, which had very much the appearance of a shield.

1935 N.Y. Times 10 Feb. s1 The Bambino donned leg pads and smashed the offerings of two ‘fast bowlers’ all over the premises.

2002 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 24 Dec. 11/1 Vincent Lafette, an engineering student from France, was strapping on his leg-pads upside-down... He'd never seen a game of cricket in his life.

† leg-payment n. Obsolete flight or absconding as a means of avoiding one's debts; in quot. in to make leg-payments; cf. leg-bail n.¹

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1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Payer en gambades, to make leg-paiments, to runne away in debt.

leg piece n. (a) each of a pair of greaves (greave n.² 1) (now historical); (b) slang a theatrical performance in which dance is prominent, spec. a ballet; cf. leg business n. (b).

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society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > armour for limbs > [noun] > leg armour > greave

hosesc1275

jamberc1330

jambeauc1380

boot1388

shinbawde?a1400

greavec1400

leg piece1653

jamb1834

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > variety, etc. > [noun] > leg-show

leg show1873

leg piece1918

1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 2nd Bk. Wks. xii. 83 He were mounted on a barbed horse furnished with..armes, thighs and leg-pieces [Fr. hoguines].

1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads xi. 151 His Leg-pieces he down to th' Anckles ti'd With silver Buckles, Leg-pieces of Brass.

1854 G. A. Sala in Househ. Words 15 Apr. 212/2 Say ye English and continental managers how often have you escaped bankruptcy through the legs of your figurantes and the judicious selection of ballets, otherwise ‘leg pieces’.

1918 G. B. Shaw Let. Sept. in W. Loraine Robert Loraine (1938) xiii. 247 So long as you have a mouth left and one lung to keep it going, you will still be better than the next best: my pieces are not leg pieces.

2011 Wisconsin State Jrnl. (Nexis) 27 Nov. g1 I decided I didn't want to fight in such heavy and complicated armor—each of my leg pieces weighed 25 pounds.

leg-pull n. [after to pull a person's leg (see pull v. Phrases 7a)] an instance of leg-pulling; an attempt to pull a person's leg; cf. leg-pulling n.

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the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > mischievous or practical joking > [noun] > instance of

jest1578

jig1592

wilec1600

waggery1604

pleasance1668

quiz1795

practical joke1804

skite1804

skit1815

galliardise1842

leg-pull1893

rannygazoo1896

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] > a trick, prank, hoax

pratOE

mowa1393

pageant?c1430

jimp?1572

prank1576

jest1578

jig1592

frump1593

trick1605

bilk1664

fun1699

plisky1706

humbug1750

hum1751

practical joke1751

marlock1763

quiz1795

practical joke1804

skite1804

hoax1808

skit1815

wrinkle1817

rusty1835

funny business1838

string1851

stringer1851

cod1862

mank1865

spoof1889

leg-pull1893

rannygazoo1896

shenanigan1926

gotcha1967

to throw a fastball1968

wind-up1984

1893 Puck (N.Y.) 2 Aug. 375/1 I can't stand any such infernal leg-pull!

1950 T. S. Eliot Cocktail Party iii. 148 You always did enjoy a leg-pull, Julia.

1970 J. Ardagh New France xi. 549 His whole operation might be partly a leg-pull at the expense of serious literature.

2013 C. Collie Reporter & Warlords i. 4 I think I'm the victim of a leg-pull.

leg-puller n. [after to pull a person's leg (see pull v. Phrases 7a)] a person who engages in leg-pulling; a person who pulls another's leg; cf. leg-pulling n.

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the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > [noun] > one who banters

railleur1655

raillier1663

banterer1678

rallier1678

badineur1734

quiz1797

quizzer1797

queerera1800

smoker1812

persifleur1829

chaffer1851

tease1853

leg-puller1887

josher1899

ragger1903

kibitzer1925

the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > mischievous or practical joking > [noun] > one who

wag1584

shaver1592

wagship1607

lick1725

nickum1804

practical joker1830

leg-puller1887

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] > practitioner

japer1362

practiser1545

practitioner1560

amuser1583

fopper1659

hummer1763

prankster1811

hoaxer1814

puck1823

practical joker1830

pranking1852

card1853

leg-puller1887

kidder1888

pranker1890

codologist1897

spoofer1914

wind-up artist1984

1887 Atchison (Kansas) Daily Globe 1 July No one would imagine, to look at the pale side-whiskered faces of the Lutheran college committee, that the members were such competent leg pullers.

1923 Motor Cycling 7 Nov. 2/1 You are a confirmed leg-puller. Just fancy kidding me about the speed of the bus I bought from you.

2010 C. McCullough Naked Cruelty 100 There's an element of leg puller in Miss MacIntosh, but I confess I like her the better for it.

leg-pulling n. [after to pull a person's leg (see pull v. Phrases 7a)] the practice of attempting to deceive or mislead others in a playful way or as a joke; an instance of this.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > mischievous or practical joking > [noun]

waggery1594

knavery1600

joking1670

leg-pulling1879

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun]

legerdemain1532

hocus-pocus1647

sham1683

funning1728

humbugging1752

humming1807

hoaxing1808

larking1813

cutting-up1843

cut-up1843

shenanigan1855

codology1860

greening1863

cod1866

leg-pulling1879

spoof1889

codding1892

spoofery1895

four-flushing1901

kidding1901

shenaniganning1924

kidology1964

1879 Lowell (Mass.) Daily Citizen 15 Feb. Magoo, irrelevant and deceitful small talk, judicious and soothing leg pulling, a linguistic banquet.

1908 Westm. Gaz. 30 June 2/1 I, too, have lived in Australia, where leg-pulling is one of the chief joys of life.

1946 R.A.F. Jrnl. May 178 ‘Liz’ and ‘Sally’..will take any amount of leg pulling—and give it.

2013 Telegraph (India) (Nexis) 30 July There was a lot of chatting, discussion, leg-pulling and fun.

leg raise n. any of various exercises in which one or both legs are slowly raised and lowered; frequently with modifying word specifying the position of the body, as lying, side, etc.

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [noun] > specific exercises

breathing1605

breather1802

arm swing1859

setting-up drill1862

grasshopper march1884

lunge1889

push-up1897

sit-up1900

pull-up1901

deep-breathing1904

bag-punching1927

press-up1928

setting-up exercise1935

pullover1936

bear crawl1937

burpee1939

knee-bend1941

leg raise1944

dip1945

uddiyana1949

squat thrust1950

lateral1954

pull-down1956

aquacise1968

step-up1973

abdominal crunch1981

power walking1982

crunch1983

gut-buster1983

stomach crunch1986

1944 Waterloo (Iowa) Daily Courier 17 Feb. 4/2 After 10 days.., increase the number of leg-raises..to four or five.

1949 Jrnl. Amer. Folklore 62 179 The unit was doing leg raises, where you lie on your back and lift your legs up and down, slowly, holding them straight all the time, until they feel like lead.

1969 Skiing Feb. 28/3 This [program] involves prone leg raises, and trunk lifts with a pillow under the hips.

1994 N. Parker Parkhurst Tales xviii. 224 I did..strict sit-ups and leg-raises in non-stop, frantic rotation.

2002 Sunday Mail (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 8 Sept. b8 Side leg raises... Lie on your side... Raise leg to 45-degree angle.

2011 F. Delavier & M. Gundill Delavier's Core Training Anat. 50/3 Seated leg raises offer more resistance than lying leg raises.

leg rest n. (a) a support for the legs intended to provide comfort; cf. footrest n. at foot n. and int. Compounds 3; (b) a tripod or similar stand for a piece of equipment.

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the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > support for the leg when seated

leg rest1823

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > support or rest > [noun] > for legs

leg rest1823

ease-and-comfort1847

1823 Hampshire Tel. & Sussex Chron. 22 Sept. 1/4 (advt.) Portable bearing chair and leg rest.

1855 E. C. Gaskell North & South II. v. 68 He was busy..contriving a leg-rest for Dixon, who was beginning to feel the fatigues of watching.

1886 Ann. Rep. Adjutant General Commonw. Mass. 1885 155 (table) Drum leg-rests.

1905 Westm. Gaz. 4 Apr. 10/2 Owing to the outer casing and the light folding leg-rests..it matters not how heated the barrel becomes.

1973 Green Shield Stamps Catal. No. 12. 133 (caption) Garden Chair with Leg Rest. Adjustable to 8 positions.

2006 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 8 Oct. viii. 6/3 Some of Martin's machines were developed so that injured players could use them, including a new full-body squat and leg-press that has a snap-down leg rest.

leg-ringing n. the practice of fitting a leg ring (leg ring n. 3) to an animal, esp. a bird; an instance of this.

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1943 Jrnl. Wildlife Managem. 7 403/2 The animal [sc. a muskrat] was rebanded by leg-ringing.

1963 Times 5 June 14/4 Mr. Nicholson has helped in many major ornithological achievements, notably in the hazardous but successful leg-ringing of young Eleanora's falcons.

2009 Paisley Daily Express (Nexis) 20 Sept. 13 I was involved in a hen harrier leg-ringing and wing-tagging project when I worked as a countryside ranger at Muirshiel 20 years ago.

legroom n. space in front of a seat for the legs of the person seated, esp. in a car or aeroplane.

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the world > space > [noun] > sufficient space or room > for legs

legroom1837

society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > space for legs

legroom1837

footwell1901

well1929

1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages xv. 230 The leg-room in the interior is abundant for reclining at full length if necessary.

1896 London Society July 26 All we want is a certain amount of change and gaiety combined with a comfortable seat and plenty of leg room.

1928 Punch 18 Apr. p. xxii (advt.) Carries four full-sized people. Ample leg-room... A wonderful performer for such a small horse-powered car.

2012 N.Y. Times Mag. 8 July 11 I was thankful to secure an exit-row middle seat with ample legroom on a recent Australian domestic flight.

legs eleven n. (a humorous nickname for) the number eleven in the game of bingo; sometimes shortened to legs (see sense 17).

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society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > bingo or lotto > [noun] > specific numbers

clickety-click1917

legs eleven1917

legs1933

1917 A. G. Empey Over Top xix. 148 The caller-out has many nicknames for the numbers such as ‘Kelly's Eye’ for one, ‘Leg's [sic] Eleven’ for eleven, ‘Clickety-click’ for sixty-six, [etc.].

1958 I. Ryan Black Man's Palaver iv. 69 Waiting with pencils poised for the caller's jargon to begin: ‘Eyes-down-look-in! Sixty-six-clickety-click. Legs-eleven.’

2002 P. Collins Men from Boys 135 He needed only two calls: all the fours, droopy drawers and legs eleven.

† leg-saw n. Obsolete a kind of saw (precise form and purpose unclear).

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1608 Rates Marchandizes 1 Legg-sawes the peece, iij.s.iiij.d.

1662 in Statutes at Large, Ireland (1765) II. 464 Leg-saws the piece 6s. 8d.

leg shield n. a protective panel on a saddle (or one of a pair extending on either side) which shields the horse-rider's legs, esp. in warfare or jousting (now historical); (later also) each of a pair of similar panels which extend on either side of the saddle of a motorcycle or motor scooter.

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society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > armour for limbs > [noun] > leg armour

leg harnessa1382

leg splint1430

chausses1484

leg shield1858

leglet1886

1858 Archaeol. Jrnl. 15 45 In the sixteenth century we find a modification of the old leg-shield..it now consists of one piece, protecting the horse's breast, and the knight's body from the waist downwards.

1860 J. Hewitt Anc. Armour III. 390 The leg-shield of the saddle is found in woodcut No. 49.

1913 Z. Grey Desert Gold vii. 123 Free of heavy saddle and the clumsy leg shields, Blanco Sol was somehow all-satisfying to the eyes of the rangers.

1925 E. T. Brown Compl. Motor-cyclist 126 The non-essential accessories include a luggage grid, speedometer, leg-shields [etc.].

2005 Scootering June 27/3 The bodywork too needed some tic, with the panels and legshields kinked and bent.

† leg shop n. U.S. slang. Obsolete a theatre showing performances featuring dancing girls in revealing costumes; cf. leg show n.

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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > [noun] > other types of theatre

little theatre1569

private house1604

private playhouse1609

amphitheatre1611

private theatre1633

droll-house1705

summer theatre1761

show shop1772

national theatre1816

minor1821

legitimate1826

patent house1827

patent theatre1836

showboat1839

music theatre1849

penny-gaff1856

saloon theatre1864

leg shop1871

people's theatre1873

nickelodeon1888

repertory theatre1891

studio theatre1891

legit1897

blood-tub1906

rep1906

small-timer1910

grind house1923

theatrette1927

indie1928

vaude1933

straw hat1935

theatre-in-the-round1948

straw-hatter1949

bughouse1952

theatre-restaurant1958

dinner theatre1959

theatre club1961

black box1971

pub theatre1971

performance space1972

1871 ‘M. Twain’ Screamers xxviii. 144 They're playing ‘Undine’ at the Opery House, and some folks call it the leg shop.

leg show n. slang (originally U.S.) a show featuring dancing girls in revealing costumes.

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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > variety, etc. > [noun] > leg-show

leg show1873

leg piece1918

1873 Chem. News 3 Oct. 179/1 Noblemen and other millionaires can be found who will devote ten of thousands in a single season to support an opera house or theatrical leg-show.

1882 J. J. Jennings Theatr. & Circus Life 238 The minor musical attractions of the quasi legitimate stage have usurped its principal feature—the leg show.

1930 J. Brophy & E. Partridge Songs & Slang Brit. Soldier: 1914–1918 137 At a leg-show of these days you saw far less of the female form than is now exhibited in the streets.

2013 Washington Post (Nexis) 26 May e1 Back in the day, the leg show and striptease facilitated the ogling of attractive women.

leg snare n. a device designed for capturing wild animals or birds, typically consisting of a string with a running noose intended to tighten around the leg; cf. snare n. 1a, leg trap n. (b).

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1968 Proc. Bear Workshop (Internat. Assoc. Bear Res.) 1 13 Some bears were trapped in the area using the Aldrich Leg Snare.

1986 N.Y. Times 29 Dec. a21/3 Cruel, wasteful and totally unnecessary because there are other kinds of traps (leg snare, box, etc.) that serve the same purpose.., the steel-jawed leghold trap is a throwback to barbarism.

2013 M. Hawthorne Bleating Hearts ii. 75 Today's trappers use a flexible braided steel cable to create either a leg snare or the more lethal neck or body snare.

leg-tired adj. = leg-weary adj.

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the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > [adjective] > specific limbs

leaden1578

leg-weary1629

heavy-handeda1634

leg-tired1740

1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 149 If he..change his Feet, it denotes he is leg-tired.

1894 Longman's Mag. Jan. 268 The suppleness of muscle was probably the reason why Mr. Weston was never ‘leg-tired’.

2008 G. A. Poole Galloping Ghost i. iv. 62 Banged and bruised, back-weary and leg-tired, Grange could barely practice that week.

leg trap n. (a) Cricket (originally) a delivery used by W. G. Grace with the aim of enticing the batter to give a catch to the fielder at square leg (now historical and rare); (later) an array of fielders stationed close in on the leg side of the wicket for catches: cf. leg theory n. at Compounds 2b; (b) a device designed for capturing wild animals or birds, typically consisting of a pair of metal jaws which snap shut around the leg; cf. trap n.¹ 1a; leg snare n.

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] > fielder > fielders by position

middle wicket1772

long-stop1773

second stop1773

stop1773

long fieldsman1790

long field?1801

third man1801

outscout1805

leg1816

point1816

slip1816

backstop1819

long fielder1835

long leg1835

long field off1837

short leg1843

square leg1849

cover-point1850

long-stopper1851

middle-off1851

cover-slip1854

long off1854

left fielder1860

short square1860

mid-off1865

extra cover (point)1867

deep-fielder1870

mid-on1870

cover1897

leg trap1897

infield1898

deep field1900

slipper1903

slip fieldsman1906

midwicket1909

infieldsman1910

slip-catcher1920

infielder1927

leg slip1956

1897 Manch. Guardian 12 July 8/1 Nearly all his wickets were secured by that funny ball of his known for some twenty years as ‘Grace's leg trap’.

1899 Eng. Illustr. Mag. Dec. 183/1 Between the ends of what are seen to be boats in the complete picture, are a number of animals circling round a leg-trap, while a hunter not far off is despatching another creature whose legs are tied together.

1919 W. T. Grenfell Labrador Doctor xiii. 240 If fox-farming some day should actually supersede the use of the present sharp-toothed leg trap, no small gain would have been effected.

1948 D. Reese Was it all Cricket? xiii. 181 He [sc. W. G. Grace] kept pitching them on the pads, and towards the end of the innings Nott..hit him on the half-volley hard and low to square-leg... The ‘Old Man’ chuckled about his leg trap coming off.

1963 Times 5 June 4/2 He took a pace to Titmus only to turn him gently into the leg trap.

1993 Albuquerque (New Mexico) Jrnl. 14 Apr. d3/5 Its predator control plan stalled in a dispute over how frequently leg traps should be checked.

2011 Independent 6 Aug. 40 His 40 victims in the leg trap making him the leading catcher, other than wicketkeepers, in the country.

leg tripping n. †(a) adj. [after German beinstellend (1818 or earlier)] characterized by the use of leg tripping (see (b)) Obsolete. rare; (b) n. the action of tripping another, (sometimes) specifically with one's own leg; an instance of this .

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1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust (Boston ed.) II. iii. 290 Eros, also, he overcame In leg-tripping [Ger. beinstellendem] wrestling match.

1888 Wisconsin State Reg. 28 Apr. It is said he will confess to the synod that he forced young ladies to rough and tumble frolics, leg-tripping and tickling, but denies any improper intentions in his playful conduct.

2012 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 1 Jan. Closing a loophole in the rulebook to remove an existing distinction between hand, foot and leg tripping.

leg warmer n. (usually in plural) each of a pair of (usually knitted) coverings for the legs intended to keep the wearer warm, esp. tubular garments which cover the leg from ankle to thigh, worn by ballerinas during rehearsal, and subsequently also by others as a fashion accessory.

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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > [noun] > other > article of

strapplec1000

leg guard1796

puttee1882

leg warmer1915

1915 Washington Post 6 Apr. 4/2 All sorts and conditions of women—knitting—knitting mittens, socks, mufflers, and leg warmers [for soldiers].

1952 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald Jrnl. 22 June 4 (caption) Ballerina Tamara Toumanova slips on a set of leg-warmers to keep her dancing gams from ‘cooling off’ between takes.

1976 Times 30 Mar. 10 Leg-warmers, accessory of every freezing dance rehearsal room, emerged as a stylish cover-up for girls.

1984 S. Townsend Growing Pains Adrian Mole 146 I had to make do with going into town with Pandora, who wanted to buy a pair of neon pink legwarmers.

2011 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 16 May 16 Customers can buy scarves, rugs and leg warmers made from alpaca wool.

leg wax n. a depilatory treatment in which unwanted hair is removed from the legs using wax (cf. wax n.¹ Additions); (also) the wax used.

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1941 Los Angeles Times 7 Oct. ii. 9/3 A schedule that keeps you going from appointments for manicure, pedicure.., facial, leg wax..to any service you may desire.

1995 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 22 Mar. 10 The..singer revealed: ‘I was looking for things for the tour and buying leg wax and knickers’.

2006 P. Williams Rise & Fall Yummy Mummy ix. 83 ‘Let's go in and get you sorted,’ says Kate. ‘A leg wax, isn't it?’

leg waxing n. the action or process of waxing one's legs, or having them waxed; an instance of this, a leg wax; cf. wax v.² 1c.Earliest in attributive use.

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1943 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald-Amer. 6 June 3/7 (advt.) Elizabeth Arden leg-waxing treatment completely removes unsightly hair.

1991 Observer 22 Sept. 10/8 There is so much less stress here,..and far less leg waxing.

2005 C. Salzmann Dying to Decorate 61 I'm really thinking that I'd like to see how these macho men would stand up under a leg waxing.

leg-weariness n. fatigue or aching in the legs, esp. after physical exertion.

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1832 A. W. McClure Lect. on Ultra-Universalism ii. 24 They would never submit to the leg-weariness of trudging to meeting two or three times a week.

1929 Times 6 July 6/6 The race is completed without the slightest trace of distress or serious leg-weariness.

2008 Mail on Sunday (Nexis) 24 Feb. There were signs of leg-weariness in his Athens performance, but any man who has played 43 games already this season would be entitled to feel a little tired.

leg-weary adj. that has tired or aching legs, esp. after physical exertion.

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the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > [adjective] > specific limbs

leaden1578

leg-weary1629

heavy-handeda1634

leg-tired1740

1629 J. Mabbe tr. C. de Fonseca Deuout Contempl. xxiii. 389 The Prophet Elias..came so bruised and so leg-wearie,..that he desired of God, that he would be pleased to take away his life.

1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) I. 243 The exciseman began to be leg-weary.

1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 319 The slow, hopeless, leg-weary jog.

1966 H. Marriott Cariboo Cowboy vii. 66 A fellow doing quite a bit of riding needs two or three horses at least, because riding one horse day after day makes the horse loggy and leg-weary.

2008 Time Out N.Y. 23 Aug. 47/3 Stuffed, but too leg-weary to handle a walk, we took a longish drive.

legwood n. English regional (southern); now rare logs cut from trees, typically for use as firewood. Sometimes also as a typographical error for logwood.

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1849 Jackson's Oxf. Jrnl. 10 Feb. Thomas Langstone, for stealing two pieces of elm leg wood, value 4s.

1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree I. i. iii. 28 We shall have a rare leg-wood fire directly.

1898 Oxf. Chron. 22 Jan. 1 A large number of Faggots and Legwood.

1917 Mod. Lang. Rev. 12 355 Legwood, small timber, used for firewood.

leg worm n. the Guinea worm, Dracunculus medinensis, which typically infests the legs.

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the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Nemathelminthes > [noun] > class Nematoda > genus Filaria > member of > filaria medinensis (Guinea worm)

Guinea worm1699

leg worm1699

dracunculus1706

hairworm1752

sea-dragon1775

skin worm1831

rishta1834

1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. iii. 79 Two hairy Worms growing in the Author's Leg. Dangerous Leg-worms in the West Indies.

1857 E. Lankester tr. G. F. Küchenmeister On Animal & Veg. Parasites Human Body I. 398 Amongst the Germans, it is known as..the skin-worm.., leg-worm.., and Pharaoh's-worm.

2008 G. Vincent Animal Vista xxvi. 186 ‘Wow, a leg worm’, Teresa exclaimed... Dr. J grasped the free end with his fingers and pulled; the object stretched.

b. Cricket. With the sense ‘directed towards the leg side; on the leg side’ (leg side n.).

leg ball n. now rare a ball delivered on or outside the leg stump.

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1829 Forget me Not 227 He missed a leg ball of Ned Smith's.

1870 Scotsman 30 May 7/1 Mr Chalmers..let go at a leg ball, and skied it straight up.

1932 N.Y. Times 29 Nov. 26 Finally falling when a leg ball he had played onto his pad slipped into the wicket.

1951 Observer 22 July 10/1 He then swished at a leg ball, and there was an appeal for caught behind the wicket.

leg boundary n. the section of the boundary which marks the edge of the field on the leg side; cf. boundary n. 3a.

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1863 Notts. Guardian 10 Apr. 7/6 Beautifully hit for 3 to the leg boundary by R. Daft.

1949 Scotsman 27 June 7/3 His first two or three strokes against Cave and Burtt found the leg boundary.

2011 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 4 Jan. (Sport section) 38 Observing that no one had been stationed on the leg boundary, Khawaja essayed a sweep.

leg-cutter n. a seam-bowling delivery in which the ball deviates from the leg side towards the off side after pitching; cf. cutter n.¹ 5b(b).

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > types of delivery or ball

full toss1826

long hop1830

twister1832

bail ball1833

bailer1833

grubber1837

slow ball1838

wide1838

ground ball1839

shooter1843

slower ball1846

twiddler1847

creeper1848

lob1851

sneak1851

sneaker1851

slow1854

bumper1855

teaser1856

daisy-cutter1857

popper1857

yorker1861

sharpshooter1863

headball1866

screwball1866

underhand1866

skimmerc1868

grub1870

ramrod1870

raymonder1870

round-armer1871

grass cutter1876

short pitch1877

leg break1878

lob ball1880

off-break1883

donkey-drop1888

tice1888

fast break1889

leg-breaker1892

kicker1894

spinner1895

wrong 'un1897

googly1903

fizzer1904

dolly1906

short ball1911

wrong 'un1911

bosie1912

bouncer1913

flyer1913

percher1913

finger-spinner1920

inswinger1920

outswinger1920

swinger1920

off-spinner1924

away swinger1925

Chinaman1929

overspinner1930

tweaker1938

riser1944

leg-cutter1949

seamer1952

leggy1954

off-cutter1955

squatter1955

flipper1959

lifter1959

cutter1960

beamer1961

loosener1962

doosra1999

1949 Scotsman 7 Feb. 7 He occasionally introduced a leg-cutter which ‘fizzed’ across.

1963 Times 25 Apr. 4/5 He went to Lord's last year to play his first match for Warwickshire and within a couple of overs had bowled everything from a leg-cutter to an inswinger.

2005 R. Smyth in M. Adamson et al. Is it Cowardly to pray for Rain? 237 Inevitably Flintoff begins, bowling over the wicket to Katich this time, and promptly beats him with a beautiful, trampolining leg-cutter.

leg glance n. a stroke in which the batter holds the face of the bat at an angle in order to deflect a ball pitching on or outside leg stump behind square leg; cf. glance n.¹ 1b. The terms glance and glide are usually used synonymously, though sometimes glance refers specifically to this stroke when it is played with a quick turn of the batter's wrists as the ball comes onto the bat, whereas glide more strongly suggests a simple deflection.

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke

long ball1744

nip1752

catch1816

no-hit1827

cut1833

short hit1833

draw1836

drive1836

square hit1837

skylarker1839

skyer1840

skyscraper1842

back-cut1845

bum1845

leg sweep1846

slog1846

square cut1850

driver1851

Harrow drive1851

leg slip1852

poke1853

snick1857

snorter1859

leg stroke1860

smite1861

on-drive1862

bump ball1864

rocketer1864

pull1865

grass trimmer1867

late cut1867

off-drive1867

spoon1871

push1873

push stroke1873

smack1875

Harrow drive1877

pull-stroke1880

leg glance1883

gallery-hit1884

boundary-stroke1887

glide1888

sweep1888

boundary1896

hook1896

leg glide1896

backstroke1897

flick1897

hook stroke1897

cover-drive1898

straight drive1898

square drive1900

edger1905

pull-drive1905

slash1906

placing stroke1907

push drive1912

block shot1915

if-shot1920

placing shot1921

cow-shot1922

mow1925

Chinese cut1937

haymaker1954

hoick1954

perhapser1954

air shot1956

steepler1959

mishook1961

swish1963

chop-

1883 Cricket 19 Apr. 39/1 Horan came in after lunch, and soon commenced to score in his own peculiar style, leg glances being his favourite stroke.

1926 J. B. Hobbs Test Match Surprise xvi. 171 What he intended for a leg glance was nothing more than a ‘mow’ between square leg and mid-on.

1993 Cricket World 3 Apr. 24/3 It's tempting to remember the game as all style and elegance, as symbolized by Ranji's leg-glance and Denis Compton's cover drive.

2014 Guardian 29 Dec. Looking for a feathered edge off a leg-glance, perhaps?

leg glide n. a leg glance, esp. when played with little or no movement of the batter's wrists; cf. glide n. 1b.

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke

long ball1744

nip1752

catch1816

no-hit1827

cut1833

short hit1833

draw1836

drive1836

square hit1837

skylarker1839

skyer1840

skyscraper1842

back-cut1845

bum1845

leg sweep1846

slog1846

square cut1850

driver1851

Harrow drive1851

leg slip1852

poke1853

snick1857

snorter1859

leg stroke1860

smite1861

on-drive1862

bump ball1864

rocketer1864

pull1865

grass trimmer1867

late cut1867

off-drive1867

spoon1871

push1873

push stroke1873

smack1875

Harrow drive1877

pull-stroke1880

leg glance1883

gallery-hit1884

boundary-stroke1887

glide1888

sweep1888

boundary1896

hook1896

leg glide1896

backstroke1897

flick1897

hook stroke1897

cover-drive1898

straight drive1898

square drive1900

edger1905

pull-drive1905

slash1906

placing stroke1907

push drive1912

block shot1915

if-shot1920

placing shot1921

cow-shot1922

mow1925

Chinese cut1937

haymaker1954

hoick1954

perhapser1954

air shot1956

steepler1959

mishook1961

swish1963

chop-

1896 Dundee Courier & Argus 4 May 6/1 The latter opened his account with a 5 leg glide to the boundary.

1920 D. J. Knight in P. F. Warner Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) (new ed.) i. 33 The first of the leg strokes, the leg glide, is a glorious one to watch.

1955 Times 12 July 12/4 Just before luncheon he had lost Brookes, who, after a beautiful leg glide, missed one from Smith to be out leg before.

2013 Daily Tel. 19 July The first Indian genius was Ranjitsinhji, he of the silky leg glide and late cut.

leg hit n. an aggressive or powerful stroke in which the ball is hit to the leg side; (in early use) spec. a stroke played on the front foot in which the batter hits a ball pitched outside the leg stump to or behind square leg.

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1833 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 293/2 His cut to the point was unrivalled, and his leg hit very powerful and sure.

1888 R. H. Lyttelton in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) ii. 65 George Parr's leg hit..was the sweep to long-leg off a shortish ball.

1951 Times 7 Mar. 2 He, like Coleman, was bowled trying a huge leg hit off Tattersall.

1994 Times 26 Aug. 38/3 Speight, attempting a leg hit, skied the last to the wicketkeeper.

leg hitter n. a batter who regularly hits the ball to the leg side; (in early use) spec. a batter who is adept at playing a leg hit; cf. leg hit n.

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1843 ‘Wykhamist’ Pract. Hints Cricket 17 He will soon become an effective leg-hitter.

1931 Pall Mall Mag. Aug. 106/1 George Parr of Notts, the finest leg-hitter of his own or any day—hitting to leg now.

1961 Guardian 31 Aug. 5/2 Miller, left-arm spinner and leg hitter, reached 53.

1968 Times 23 Aug. 11/4 Lindsay, a paragon leg hitter, hooked Cottam mightily and Butcher swung Shackleton over long leg for four.

leg hitting n. the action of hitting the ball to the leg side; (in early use) spec. the action of playing a leg hit; cf. leg hit n.

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1838 Brighton Patriot 21 Aug. The leg hitting of Wenman was some of the finest ever witnessed on the ground.

1895 Manch. Guardian 13 July 9/2 He batted his best form, his cutting and leg hitting being crisp and clean.

1963 Times 31 Aug. 3 The fierce driving and leg hitting by Barrington and Lock brought a partnership of 54.

leg play n. (a) the action of hitting the ball to the leg side; (b) = pad play n. at pad n.² Compounds 2.

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of batting

blocking1637

quilting1822

defence1825

cutting1827

forward play1828

defensive1832

swiping1833

back-cutting1842

straight play1843

back play1844

sticking1873

leg play1877

off-driving1884

gallery-hitting1888

goose game1899

straight driving1904

stroke-play1905

pad play1906

on-driving1948

stroke-making1956

1877 Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 12 Feb. Alexander secured a single by pretty leg play.

1888 R. H. Lyttelton in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) xvi. 411 Is he [sc. the bowler] not entitled to a little consideration when all his efforts..are neutralised by the leg and not the bat? It may be reckoned a certainty that neither Dark nor Caldecourt could have foreseen the prevalence of modern leg play.

1908 Observer 30 Aug. 9/4 The dependence on the ball's pitching in a straight line..was equitable before leg play became an accomplishment of the highly defensive batsman.

1950 Spectator 18 Aug. 206/2 I am convinced that if Sir Donald [Bradman] had had my training in leg-play he would have made light of body-line bowling.

2011 Daily Tel. 11 Sept. Cook/Anderson have a bunch of fielders on the legside boundary, which seems a bit peculiar, seeing that Jadeja seems to have a pre-WG attitude to leg-play—i.e. that it's just not cricket.

leg-spin n. spin that causes the ball to turn from the leg side towards the off side after it has pitched; (later also) bowling, typically wrist-spin, in which the ball is delivered with this spin; frequently attributive; cf. off-spin n.

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > motion of ball > specific

curl1833

screw1840

devil1845

rise1845

work1846

break1851

spin1851

hang1866

bump1867

fire1888

leg-spin1888

air break1900

turn1900

underspin1901

off-spin1904

finger spin1905

swing1906

back-spin1916

outswing1921

inswing1927

away swing1936

wrist-spin1960

1888 A. G. Steel in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iii. 116 The ball, coming from a great distance round the wicket and with a considerable amount of leg spin, would be gradually working away to the batsman's off side.

1924 Manch. Guardian 23 May 4/2 Pitching his leg spin on the middle of the wicket.

1966 B. Close Close on Cricket v. 55 We have a quantity of good finger-spin bowlers but few leg-spin bowlers in first-class cricket.

1987 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 17 Feb. (Sport section) 36 An excellent display of quality leg-spin bowling with subtle variation of line and length.

2015 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) 18 Jan. (Sport section) 33 Imran Khan, who was a great believer in leg-spin as an attacking weapon, utilised the talents of Mushtaq Ahmed to help him win the trophy.

leg-spinner n. a bowler who bowls leg spin; (also) a leg spin delivery; cf. off-spin n.

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] > bowler > types of bowler

slow bowler1823

fast bowler1828

bias bowler1854

round-arm1858

demon bowler1861

left-hander1864

chucker1882

lobster1889

slow1895

leg-breaker1904

speed merchant1913

leg-spinner1920

spin bowler1920

off-spinner1924

quickie1934

tweaker1935

swerve-bowler1944

pace bowler1947

seam bowler1948

spinner1951

seamer1952

wrist-spinner1957

outswinger1958

swing bowler1958

quick1960

stock bowler1968

paceman1972

leggy1979

1920 Observer 27 June 21 That leg-spinner of whom the papers have talked so much may easily bowl fifty per cent.

1924 Manch. Guardian 5/1 To hit against the break of a good-length leg spinner is to sin against the first principle of batsmanship.

1965 P. Walker Winning Cricket iv. 57 Nowadays you have to bowl leg spinners with the accuracy of an orthodox right hander to achieve even moderate success.

2005 Evening Standard (Nexis) 15 July 71 We must be wary we don't end up playing Shane Warne the myth rather than Shane Warne the leg-spinner.

leg stroke n. = leg hit n.

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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke

long ball1744

nip1752

catch1816

no-hit1827

cut1833

short hit1833

draw1836

drive1836

square hit1837

skylarker1839

skyer1840

skyscraper1842

back-cut1845

bum1845

leg sweep1846

slog1846

square cut1850

driver1851

Harrow drive1851

leg slip1852

poke1853

snick1857

snorter1859

leg stroke1860

smite1861

on-drive1862

bump ball1864

rocketer1864

pull1865

grass trimmer1867

late cut1867

off-drive1867

spoon1871

push1873

push stroke1873

smack1875

Harrow drive1877

pull-stroke1880

leg glance1883

gallery-hit1884

boundary-stroke1887

glide1888

sweep1888

boundary1896

hook1896

leg glide1896

backstroke1897

flick1897

hook stroke1897

cover-drive1898

straight drive1898

square drive1900

edger1905

pull-drive1905

slash1906

placing stroke1907

push drive1912

block shot1915

if-shot1920

placing shot1921

cow-shot1922

mow1925

Chinese cut1937

haymaker1954

hoick1954

perhapser1954

air shot1956

steepler1959

mishook1961

swish1963

chop-

1860 Birmingham Daily Post 27 June Anderson followed with one for a heavy leg stroke off the same bowler.

1906 Westm. Gaz. 12 July 4/1 This leg-stroke off a straight ball has two great merits—it scores runs and it puts the bowler off.

1949 Times of India 14 Aug. 5/4 Sutcliffe played too soon on a leg stroke to Hollies, and Bedser knelt to take the catch.

2014 Port Macquarie News (Nexis) 13 Jan. 11 Boydell's leg strokes were a feature of his innings, and his 63 were a valuable contribution.

leg stump n. the stump on the leg side of the wicket defended by the batter; cf. off stump n.

ΚΠ

1829 Bell's Life in London 23 Aug. When there shall be less than five players on a side, bounds shall be placed twenty-two yards each in a line from the off and leg stump.

1881 Daily News 9 July 2 Spiro was clean bowled, leg stump by the Eton captain.

1956 A. R. Alston Test Comm. ix. 62 Oakman edged an intended off-drive past the leg-stump for four.

2014 Guardian 19 Dec. He survives, somewhat luckily, replays showing the ball would have struck leg stump.

leg sweep n. = sweep n. 5b.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke

long ball1744

nip1752

catch1816

no-hit1827

cut1833

short hit1833

draw1836

drive1836

square hit1837

skylarker1839

skyer1840

skyscraper1842

back-cut1845

bum1845

leg sweep1846

slog1846

square cut1850

driver1851

Harrow drive1851

leg slip1852

poke1853

snick1857

snorter1859

leg stroke1860

smite1861

on-drive1862

bump ball1864

rocketer1864

pull1865

grass trimmer1867

late cut1867

off-drive1867

spoon1871

push1873

push stroke1873

smack1875

Harrow drive1877

pull-stroke1880

leg glance1883

gallery-hit1884

boundary-stroke1887

glide1888

sweep1888

boundary1896

hook1896

leg glide1896

backstroke1897

flick1897

hook stroke1897

cover-drive1898

straight drive1898

square drive1900

edger1905

pull-drive1905

slash1906

placing stroke1907

push drive1912

block shot1915

if-shot1920

placing shot1921

cow-shot1922

mow1925

Chinese cut1937

haymaker1954

hoick1954

perhapser1954

air shot1956

steepler1959

mishook1961

swish1963

chop-

1846 W. Denison Cricket: Sketches of Players 17 His [sc. G. Brockwell's] ‘leg sweeps’ are very powerful, and generally speaking they are along the ground—not lifted.

1904 Manch. Guardian 17 May 4/5 Quaife soon after made an exceedingly clever leg sweep for the same result, and with a snick to leg gained the first boundary.

2000 Sunday Times 23 July 17 Matt Prior scored 93 before falling playing an ambitious leg sweep as he ran out of partners.

leg theory n. the tactic or practice of bowling at the leg stump with a concentration of fielders close in on the leg side; cf. off-theory n. at off n. 4, leg trap n. (a) at Compounds 2a.While leg theory is sometimes used with spin-bowling, it is chiefly associated with seam bowling; with quot. 1933 cf. body line adj.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > [noun] > theories

off-theory1883

leg theory1894

on-theory1896

1894 New Rev. May 635 Palmer also, good bowler as he was, would undoubtedly have been better if he had not embraced the leg-theory.

1923 Daily Mail 11 Aug. 7/4 Newman, following the fashion of the match, bowled the leg theory with a crescent of fieldsmen close in on the leg side.

1933 Times of India 7 Nov. 5/3 Larwood, who never bowled anything but fast leg theory—which is not bodyline at all—told me himself who invented the term.

2006 Times 8 Dec. 100 Warne is by no means the first bowler to have closed down a match with a version of what might be called leg theory.

Derivatives

leg-like adj. that resembles a leg in shape, appearance, or function.

ΚΠ

1835 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 125 317 It will be sufficient to notice the determinate leg-like form of these disengaged limbs.

1893 T. R. R. Stebbing Hist. Crustacea iv. 41 Close up to the lower lip, and as little leg-like as any of the appendages, are placed the first maxillæ.

a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. xiv. 353 Second come the pedipalps, usually six-jointed and leg-like. They help in feeling, compensating..for the absence of antennae.

1990 Sci. Amer. June 62 (caption) Frogfishes move across the substrate with the help of leg-like fins. They do so either by ‘crutching’..or by ‘walking’.

2011 Sherbrooke (Quebec) Record (Nexis) 6 Oct. 2 The spindly leg-like supports of each work rest on the gallery floor.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	leg
释义	legn. Brit. /lɛɡ/, U.S. /lɛɡ/ Forms: Middle English leggue, Middle English leghe, Middle English leyg, Middle English lige, Middle English lyg, Middle English–1600s lege, Middle English–1600s legge, Middle English–1700s legg, Middle English– leg, 1500s leige; also Scottish pre-1700 lag, pre-1700 lige, pre-1700 ligge, pre-1700 lyg, pre-1700 lyge, pre-1700 1900s– laig, pre-1700 (1900s– north-eastern) leig, 1700s lage, 1700s leag, 1800s league (north-eastern), 1800s– leeg, 1800s liag (north-eastern), 1900s– lig, 1900s– (north-eastern) lyag; U.S. regional (chiefly southern and south Midland) 1800s– laig, 1900s– lag. Origin: A borrowing from early Scandinavian. Etymology: < early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic leggr leg, (in compounds) limb, extremity (Icelandic leggur calf of the leg), Old Swedish lägger leg (Swedish lägg calf of the leg), Old Danish leg , læg calf of the leg (Danish læg )), apparently < the same Indo-European base as Langobardic lagi thigh, probably < the same Indo-European base as Greek λακτίζειν to kick, classical Latin lacertus arm. The continental West Germanic languages, as well as the modern Scandinavian languages, use cognates of bone n.¹ to denote the lower limb of the human body.Specific senses. In sense 3a after the corresponding use of Anglo-Norman jaumbe, Anglo-Norman and Middle French jambe leg (see jamb n.); compare gamb n. In sense 3b short for leg dollar n. at Compounds 2a. In sense 11 ultimately after the corresponding use of ancient Greek σκέλος (see scelides n.). Although quot. 1864 at sense 16 appears to suggest an Italian model for the specific use in lacemaking, no supporting evidence for this suggestion has been found, and dictionaries of Italian do not record either gamba leg (see jamb n.) nor any of its derivatives in a similar sense. In sense 19 short for blackleg n. In legs eleven n. at Compounds 2a, and hence in sense 17, apparently with allusion to the resemblance of the number 11 to the shape of a pair of legs. Use as surname. Earlier currency appears to be implied by use as surname (frequent from the second half of the 12th cent.), e.g. Edwardus Leg (1168), John Leg (1221), Nicholaus Legge (1294), etc. I. The lower limb of the human body, and related senses. 1. a. The lower limb of the human body, or the part of the lower limb between the hip and the ankle. Also spec. (Anatomy): the part of the lower limb between the knee and the ankle (in ordinary use called the lower leg, the part from the hip to the knee being distinguished as the thigh or upper leg). ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > leg > [noun] shanka900 legc1300 grainsa1400 limbc1400 foot?a1425 stumpa1500 pin?1515 pestlea1529 boughc1550 stamp1567 understander1583 pile1584 supporters1601 walker?1611 trestle1612 fetlock1645 pedestal1695 drumstick1770 gam1785 timber1807 tram1808–18 fork1812 prop1817 nethers1822 forkals1828 understanding1828 stick1830 nether person1835 locomotive1836 nether man1846 underpinning1848 bender1849 Scotch peg1857 Scotch1859 under-pinner1859 stem1860 Coryate's compasses1864 peg1891 wheel1927 shaft1935 c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 940 Hii soten hire legges [c1275 Calig. sconken]. c1300 St. Cuthbert (Laud) l. 50 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 360 (MED) He bi-heold and handlede þane sore leg ase þei he leche were. c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 1807 Darrie from hym þe table shett, Þat it wendeþ in þe flett; He þroweþ legges [a1425 Linc. Inn drawiþ leg] ouere oþer, And makeþ þretynges. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 5473 Wormes As large as a mans lege. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 238/2 Legge fro the kne to the fote. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 115^v If wee assaye to take vp a thing from the ground, stryding, and not with our legges together, wee take it vp with more ease and strength. 1611 C. Tourneur Atheist's Trag. (new ed.) ii. sig. E4^v My legge is not goutie. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 512 His Leggs entwining Each other..down he fell A monstrous Serpent. View more context for this quotation 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 91. ⁋4 He ran over, with a laughing Eye, Crastin's thin Legs, meagre Looks, and spare Body. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World ii. 58 My third Lieutenant, broke his leg by a slide on the deck. 1833 Atkinson's Casket Feb. 69/2 The tailor sat on the bench, with his legs akimbo. 1864 Ld. Tennyson Grandmother iii, in Enoch Arden, etc. 115 ‘Here's a leg for a babe of a week!’ says doctor. 1914 Independent (N.Y.) 19 Jan. 105/1 We have pictures of the battlefield..and the dolorous year-long waiting in the hospital bed for the mending arm or leg. 1954 K. B. Roberts in H. W. Florey Lect. Gen. Pathol. xxxiii. 620 Milroy's disease..affects one or both legs, appears at birth or in childhood and last throughout life. 2014 Hot 1 Mar. 16/1 Uh-oh, it appears not everyone is a fan of the Duchess of Cambridge's toned legs. b. spec. In plural, with reference to the use of the legs (sense 1a) in standing, walking, running, etc. Cf. leg v. 1. See also specific phrases in the Phrases section, e.g. to keep one's legs at Phrases 3h, to take (also †betake) (†oneself) to one's legs at Phrases 3l. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports staffc1000 hold1042 source1359 legc1380 shorer1393 stabilimenta1398 upholder1398 sustentationa1400 undersetterc1400 bearinga1425 undersettinga1425 suppowellc1430 triclinec1440 sustentaclec1451 supportera1475 sustainerc1475 sustenal1483 stayc1515 buttress1535 underpinning1538 firmament1554 countenance1565 support1570 appuia1573 comfort1577 hypostasis1577 underpropping1586 porter1591 supportation1593 supportance1597 understaya1603 bearer1607 rest1609 upsetter1628 mountinga1630 sustent1664 underlay1683 holdfast1706 abutment1727 suppeditor1728 mount1739 monture1746 bed1793 appoggiatura1833 bracing1849 bench1850 under-pinner1859 bolster-piece1860 sustainer1873 table mount1923 c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 1369 By þe legges lifte he þe schrewe þan & schef hur out ech del. c1450 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 72 And at revell for to se yow hoppe, Ys joy y-now so ye your lyggys streyne. 1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour ii. xii. sig. T He was inforced to kepe his bedde, beinge for lacke of slepe and other naturall sustenaunce: brought in suche feblenesse, that his legges mougt nat sustayne his body. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. ii. 5 Vse your legges, take the start, runne away. View more context for this quotation 1640 R. Brome Antipodes sig. C3 Doct. Mandevile went farre. Per. Beyond all English legges that I can read of. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones III. vii. vii. 51 I thank Heaven my Legs are very able to carry me. View more context for this quotation 1847 G. P. R. James John Marston Hall ix Some of them fled as fast as their legs would carry them. 1867 S. W. Baker Nile Tributaries Abyssinia xi. 287 He would rather trust to his legs. 1934 Scotsman 29 May 14 The first bullet whistled past Bateman and the second one got me. I felt a sharp stinging pain, and somehow my legs gave way beneath me. 2011 Times (Nexis) 9 May 41 My wife and I took our eldest son to the playground this week and saw a toddler there who seemed unsteady on his legs. c. Each of the organs of support and locomotion in an animal body, as any of the limbs of a quadruped, either of the hind limbs of a bird, or any of the locomotory appendages of an arthropod.The limbs of a quadruped may be distinguished as forelegs and hindlegs. ΚΠ a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xii. xxv. 633 Locusta..haþ longe legges... And here hinder legges beþ longer þan here furþere legges. a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) l. 3769 (MED) Sire Brytric hadde a gode horse..& for he was ȝong, & bothe wylde & leyȝt, He hadde y-fedryde to-gedur his leygus two. c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f.83^v (MED) Waische his heed wiþ þe watir in þe whiche þe feet and þe leggis of a weþir ben soden. 1522 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/4) For the dyner of iij men that holp slyng and lyft the cow that broke her legg. 1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus iv. ii. 101 All the water in the Ocean, Can neuer turne the swans blacke legs to white. View more context for this quotation 1649 Perfect Occurr. Parl. No. 142. 1267 One browne Mare with a starre in her fore-head, three white feet, splinters on both legges, trots altogether. 1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 122 Crustaceous..having generally eight legs, besides..two or more annulated horns or feelers. 1752 Philos. Trans. 1749–50 (Royal Soc.) 46 538 A Bee loading the Farina, Bee-Bread, or crude Wax, upon its Legs. 1773 G. White Let. 9 Dec. in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 164 The black-faced poll-sheep have the shortest legs. 1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xix. 190 ‘What's the matter with the dogs' legs?’ whispered Mr. Winkle. 1896 A. Newton et al. Dict. Birds: Pt. IV at Stork Its contrasted plumage..with its bright red bill and legs, makes it a conspicuous and beautiful object. 1925 N. Dyalhis in Weird Tales Apr. 6/2 As I blundered full upon the monstrosity it upheaved its ugly bulk—how I do not know, for I saw no legs nor did it have wings. 1971 R. F. Harwood in R. E. Pfadt Fund. Appl. Entomol. (ed. 2) ii. 37 Insect legs are constructed on a basic plan derived from seven segments, with only five clearly apparent. 2012 Your Chickens Apr. 47/3 Its powerful bone structure and well-muscled body and legs..make it an impressive and striking bird. d. figurative and in figurative contexts, typically with reference to something acting as a support. Frequently in established phrases, e.g. not to have a leg to stand on at Phrases 3g(a), to fall on one's legs at Phrases 1f. Cf. sense 13. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > [noun] > that which supports or encourages leg1635 confortatorya1680 1577 J. Grange Golden Aphroditis sig. D.iij The onely sounde of trumpe & drumme..inforced him to sette the best legge forewarde. 1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 15 Buyenge and sellinge is one of the leggs whervpon euery common welthe dothe stand. 1635 F. Quarles Emblemes iv. iii. 193 The sprightly voice of sinew-strengthning Pleasure Can lend my bedrid soule both legs and leisure. 1663 Hactenus Inaudita 9 Recourse must be had to a true Son of the Art, who walks the Via Regia on the Legs of Reason and Experience..and knows how to make use of the Crutch of Analogisme. 1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Baucis & Philemon in Fables 160 They haste, and what their tardy Feet deny'd, The trusty Staff (their better Leg) supply'd. 1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 561 One leg by truth supported, one by lies, They sidle to the goal. 1885 Central Law Jrnl. 27 Nov. 446/1 The judiciary in this country is a sort of ball and chain fastened to the legislative leg. 1892 Ohio Pract. Farmer 26 Mar. 240/2 Too many of them [sc. farmers] have been ‘one-legged walkers,’ and they have not exercised their political leg for so long a time it had become sweenied and almost useless. 1937 C. Morris Logical Positivism v. 67 Science has integrated and utilized all of the dimensions of meaning, and may be said to walk on the three legs of theory, fact, and practice. 1956 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. 119 182 There are two legs supporting this claim: (i) theory, (ii) facts. 2003 Southwestern Hist. Q. 107 357 Victoria Turner's Dreams, Fields, and Metaphors, an important theoretical leg of Anderson's work. 2. The leg or part of the leg of an animal or bird used as food; meat from the leg of an animal or bird. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > part or joint of animal > [noun] > leg or thigh pestlea1425 leg?c1425 gigot1526 gybot1597 ham1650 leg joint1825 skinka1918 ?c1425 Recipe in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (Arun. 334) (1790) 453 (MED) Take moton of the legge, and seth hit tendur bi hitself. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xii. 115 Here is to recorde The leg of a goys With chekyns endorde. 1541 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) ii. i. 16 b Biefe is better digested than a chykens [sic] legge. a1625 J. Fletcher Bonduca ii. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Gggg3^v/1 What say you to a leg of Beef now, sirha? a1654 A. Ross Πανσεβεια (1655) i. 36 In another dish is a roasted leg of Lamb or Kid, with an hard egge. 1733 V. La Chapelle Mod. Cook II. iii. 124 A bit of Leg of Veal. 1786 J. Wolcot Bozzy & Piozzi 28 Dear Doctor Johnson lov'd a leg of pork, And hearty on it, would his grinders work. 1786 H. L. Piozzi Anecd. Johnson 102 Johnson's own notions about eating however were nothing less than delicate; a leg of pork boiled till it dropped from the bone. 1854 Tait's Edinb. Mag. Oct. 623/2 Three or four pounds of leg of beef will suffice for the meals of a whole week. 1941 Times 2 Oct. 5/4 People who out of pure wantonness throw away loaves of bread or even legs of mutton, and are very properly fined for it. 2012 S. Rexford Suzanne's Kitchen 343 Turkey breasts (white meat) cook faster than turkey legs and thighs (dark meat). 3. a. A heraldic representation of a leg. Cf. gamb n., paw n.¹ 1c. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > representations of human or divine beings > [noun] > leg legc1460 c1460 Bk. Arms in Ancestor (1903) Apr. 182 (MED) Port de goulys tres jaumbis inne sayle eprone dore. The leggys sylvyr, the sporrys and the kneys golde. The armys of the Ile of Man. c1500 Sc. Poem Heraldry (Harl. 6149) l. 168 in F. J. Furnivall Queene Elizabethes Achademy (1869) i. 100 Thire be also raschit, as lege or heid. 1680 G. Mackenzie Sci. Herauldry xix. 54 Gules, on a fess betwixt a bow and arrow in full draught in Chief, and three legs couped at the thigh in base argent. 1725 J. Coats New Dict. Heraldry (rev. ed.) Legs are born in Coat-Armour, either naked, or shod, or booted. 1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 457/2 ‘Gules, three Legs armed proper, conjoined in the Fess-point’... This is the coat of arms of the Isle of Man. 1846 W. Newton Display of Heraldry xv. 111 Argent, a chevron between three eagles' legs erased sable, is borne by the name of Bray. 1909 A. C. Fox-Davies Compl. Guide Heraldry xii. 207 A bull's leg is the crest of De la Vache. 2006 J. T. Koch Celtic Cultures II. 676/1 In Viking times, the coat of arms of the Isle of Man was a ship with sails furled, but after the Viking era ended this was changed to the three legs emblem. †b. Scottish. Short for leg dollar n. at Compounds 2a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > Scottish coins > [noun] > silver coins mark1379 noble1417 yokindale1536 Douglas groat1554 James Royal1567 leg1687 fourteen-shilling piece1695 thirteen-pence-halfpenny piece1723 spurred groata1773 sword dollar1825 1687 Acct. in J. Russell Haigs of Bemersyde (1881) xi. 331 To Daick,..a rex-dollar and halfe a legg. 1688 in Sc. Notes & Queries (1888) 1st Ser. 3 39 From Robert Davidson 9 rix dollars and ane leg quhich he had received from Dantzick. a1722 J. Lauder Jrnls. (1900) 269 The nixt money I brok upon was 52 dollars wheirof 31 of them ware legs. 4. A gesture of submission or deferential respect, an obeisance; spec. a bow, curtsy. Frequently in to make a (†long, †low, etc.) leg and variants. Also in extended use. Cf. leg v. 2. Now archaic.to scrape a leg: see scrape v. 8b. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > respect or show respect [verb (intransitive)] > bow, kneel, or curtsey loutc825 abowOE bowa1000 kneel?a1000 kneec1000 crookc1320 to bow the knee1382 inclinec1390 crouchc1394 croukc1394 coucha1500 plya1500 to make or do courtesy1508 beck1535 to make a (long, low, etc.) leg1548 curtsya1556 dopc1557 binge1562 jouk1567 beckon1578 benda1586 humblea1592 vaila1593 to scrape a leg1602 congee1606 to give the stoop1623 leg1628 scrape1645 to drop a curtsy1694 salaam1698 boba1794 dip1818 to make (also perform) a cheese1834 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > manifestation of respect > bowing, kneeling, or curtseying > a bow or curtsey crookc1330 beckc1375 obediencec1390 obeisancea1393 reverencec1400 inclinationa1425 courtesy1508 curtsy1513 honour1531 leg1548 duck1554 beisance1556 jouk1567 congee1577 crouch1597 humblesso1599 inclinabo1607 salaam1613 dop1616 scrape1628 bowa1656 visit-leg1673 couchee1691 dip1792 bob1825 1548 W. Lynne tr. M. Luther Frutefull & Godly Expos. Kyngdom of Christ sig. Fviii Thou spendest thy money, and makest wery legges, and yet doest no good. a1587 L. Aldersey in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) i. 181 I turned me to the Basha, and made a long legge, saying, Grand mercye Seignior. 1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. P3^v Whither..haue you brought mee? To Newgate good Master Doctour with a lowe legge they made answer. 1657 T. Reeve God's Plea for Nineveh 74 When he doth congee to the humours of the age, and make low leggs to the fancies of the times. 1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 42 'Tis good to learn to dance, a man may learn his Leg, learn to go handsomly. 1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 106 The Governour..gave them his Hat and Leg. 1839 H. W. Longfellow Hyperion I. i. vii He is one that cannot make a good leg. 1858 Sat. Rev. 31 July 98 The India Bill came simpering on..and made its little leg to an applauding public. 1925 S. Weyman Queen's Folly (1927) 10 She's young..and bidding's no more than wind in the grass when a young spark makes a leg. 2007 E. James Desperate Duchesses i. 13 ‘Your servant, Gryffyn,’ the duke said, making a leg. 5. The part of a boot, pair of trousers, etc., which covers the leg, or a part of the leg. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > covering spec parts of body > other breasta1486 thigh1533 leg1558 belly1600 instepc1615 knee1662 belly-piece1689 legging1738 wrist1803 bust1808 midriff1941 the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > boot leg leg1558 bootleg1634 1558 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Queen Elizabeth (1908) 19 viii paire of Sloppes parted, the one legge of the said blewe clothe of golde and the other of greene clothe of Silver. 1639 J. Woodall Treat. Plague in Surgeons Mate (rev. ed.) 360 Be carefull to provide them Wastcoates, Sleeves, or, at the least, the legges of old Hose. 1780 D. Monro Observ. Means of Preserving Health of Soldiers (ed. 2) I. i. ii. 8 The troops on the North American service have had a pair of trousers, or breeches with legs, which reach to their shoes furnished them. 1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 248 That..ungainly looking man,..with the straggling black trousers, which reach about half-way down the leg of his boots. 1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations I. ii. 18 To put my hunk of bread-and-butter down the leg of my trousers. 1924 F. J. Mills Happy Days 112 Those trousers..were what was known as half-masters. There was a space of three inches between the bottom of each leg and the top of each boot. 1963 N.Y. Times 19 July 11/2 Silk beach pajama bottoms were cut with a wide leg. 2003 K. Sampson Freshers 38 Jeans so voluminous you could hide a keg of ale down either leg. 6. a. An artificial or prosthetic leg. Frequently with the material from which the leg is made specified, esp. in wooden leg (see wooden adj. Compounds 2), cork leg, etc. Cf. peg leg n., prosthesis n. 2b. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > prosthesis or spare part > [noun] > leg leg1574 wooden leg1582 stump1679 peg leg1769 timber-toe1785 peg1826 tram1836 jury-leg1850 pylon1919 1574 J. Whitgift Def. Aunswere to Admon. xvi. 624 A legge of woode ioyned cunninglye to a true bodye. 1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. xxiii. xii. 882 The description of legs made artificially of iron. 1788 B. Bell Syst. Surg. VI. 503 A hollow leg made of tin, and covered with thin leather. 1895 Catal. Surg. Instruments (Arnold & Sons) 789 Socket Leg, for amputation above knee, with wooden socket. 1924 Washington Post 3 Jan. 4/5 Col. Emilio P. Cordero, Cuban patriot and soldier,..distinguished himself in the Spanish–American war by carrying messages through the lines in his cork leg. 2014 Worcester News (Nexis) 31 July [She] waved her leg at the front of the crowd. Captured on video..Tony can be heard saying, ‘Jesus, you've taken your leg off’. †b. Perhaps: a wooden leg used as a frame around which to knit stockings. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making other clothing > [noun] > making hosiery > equipment leg1699 1699 A. Boyer Royal Dict. (at cited word) A Leg of Wood to put in a Stocking, Forme, pour enformer les Bas. 7. colloquial. In plural. a. Originally in Billiards. With reference to a ball: the momentum needed to reach a desired point. Esp. in to have (the) legs. ΚΠ 1869 Sportsman Feb. 87 Cook's ball..never seems to have ‘legs’ to reach the object intended. 1879 J. L. Molloy Our Autumn Holiday on French Rivers xvi. 110 Bow played for a final cannon... His ball struggled on, but, in billiard parlance, it hadn't enough legs. 1918 Golfers Mag. Sept. 23/1 Once or twice it threatened to stop but it just had legs enough to come to the rim..and then fell ‘plump’ into the cup. 1959 I. Fleming Goldfinger ix. 113 Desperately Bond focused the ball and tried to keep his swing all in one piece. There came the ugly clonk of a mis-hit ball... It was a lofted hook. Would it have the legs? 1994 Times 31 May 23/5 He drove Emburey through the leg side,..giving the ball enough ‘legs’ to beat Fraser's chase to the rope. 2013 M. Haszto Deafening Vibrations 228 Matt ripped a long line drive to left center field... It looked as though the ball had enough legs to clear the fence. b. Originally and chiefly U.S. With reference to a product or idea: popular appeal or success, esp. over a long period of time; the potential to be popular or successful; staying power. Frequently in to have legs.Originally with reference to a book, film, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > quality of being approvable or acceptable > popularity > [noun] > potential for popularity leg1930 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > quality of being approvable or acceptable > popularity > become popular [verb (intransitive)] > have potential for popularity to have legs1930 1930 R. R. Clark Let. in Publ. Texas Folk-lore Soc. 8 153 His stuff was much copied and when he wrote something that went the rounds he would say that ‘it had legs’. 1978 N.Y. Times Mag. 23 July 22/2 Books that used to be called pageturners but are now referred to as books with legs, presumably because they seem to walk off the shelves. 1985 Time 4 Feb. 85 Sometimes..movies can elude their death warrants and flourish into cult objects through doggedness and word of mouth. They acquire ‘legs’. 1991 Spy (N.Y.) Mar. 19/2 The Tracking Study can be used to assess a film's potential ‘legs’. 1996 Entertainm. Weekly 3 May 7/1 But it's not clear if the stock has legs: Prices dipped the next trading day to $26 but edged up to just over $17 at press time. 2010 Independent 18 Feb. 20/3 Brown was furious that his spin doctors had ‘allowed’ the story to get legs. 2011 D. Eagleman Incognito (2012) v. 125 No one yet knows whether Jaynes's theory has legs, but the proposal is too interesting to ignore. 8. slang (originally and chiefly U.S.) a. Sexual intercourse. Frequently in to get (off) some leg: (of a man) to have sexual intercourse. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > [noun] > sexual intercourse ymonec950 moneOE meanc1175 manredc1275 swivinga1300 couplec1320 companyc1330 fellowred1340 the service of Venusc1350 miskissinga1387 fellowshipc1390 meddlinga1398 carnal knowinga1400 flesha1400 knowledgea1400 knowledginga1400 japec1400 commoning?c1425 commixtionc1429 itc1440 communicationc1450 couplingc1475 mellingc1480 carnality1483 copulation1483 mixturea1500 Venus act?1507 Venus exercise?1507 Venus play?1507 Venus work?1507 conversation?c1510 flesh-company1522 act?1532 carnal knowledge1532 occupying?1544 congression1546 soil1555 conjunction1567 fucking1568 rem in re1568 commixture1573 coiture1574 shaking of the sheets?1577 cohabitation1579 bedding1589 congress1589 union1598 embrace1599 making-outa1601 rutting1600 noddy1602 poop-noddy1606 conversinga1610 carnal confederacy1610 wapping1610 businessa1612 coition1615 doinga1616 amation1623 commerce1624 hot cocklesa1627 other thing1628 buck1632 act of love1638 commistion1658 subagitation1658 cuntc1664 coit1671 intimacy1676 the last favour1676 quiffing1686 old hat1697 correspondence1698 frigging1708 Moll Peatley1711 coitus1713 sexual intercourse1753 shagging1772 connection1791 intercourse1803 interunion1822 greens1846 tail1846 copula1864 poking1864 fuckeea1866 sex relation1871 wantonizing1884 belly-flopping1893 twatting1893 jelly roll1895 mattress-jig1896 sex1900 screwing1904 jazz1918 zig-zig1918 other1922 booty1926 pigmeat1926 jazzing1927 poontang1927 relations1927 whoopee1928 nookie1930 hump1931 jig-a-jig1932 homework1933 quickie1933 nasty1934 jig-jig1935 crumpet1936 pussy1937 Sir Berkeley1937 pom-pom1945 poon1947 charvering1954 mollocking1959 leg1967 rumpy-pumpy1968 shafting1971 home plate1972 pata-pata1977 bonking1985 legover1985 knobbing1986 rumpo1986 fanny1993 1967 H. S. Thompson Hell's Angels i. 16 They were loaded and they wanted to get off some leg. 1969 U. Hannerz Soulside vi. 126 Already boys less than ten years old talk in the group context about ‘getting some pussy’ (or ‘some leg’ as boys in Washington started saying about 1967). 1978 Maledicta 1977 1 227 Some free leg (sex). 2007 I. Christe Everybody wants Some vi. 69 Hey man, that suit is you! You'll get some leg tonight for sure! b. Women considered as a source of sexual intercourse or satisfaction. Now usually in a bit of leg, a piece of leg. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual partner > [noun] > woman considered in sexual terms or as a sexual partner cunnya1593 watermilla1626 piece of ass1816 fuck1870 gash1914 assa1916 mama1916 bim1922 pigmeat1926 nookie1928 screw1937 poontang1945 poon1947 trim1955 a bit (or piece) of crumpet1959 leg1968 1968 W. Heyen & W. Taggart What happens in Fort Lauderdale 60 When it comes to pulling leg, I get my share, you know. 1983 ‘J. Cain’ Saigon Commandos xxix. 441 Just a lot of hot leg in here. 1997 Times (Nexis) 16 July Mr McKever, a veteran of Dunkirk, confessed: ‘I still look after a nice bit of leg from time to time.’ II. Something that resembles a leg in shape, appearance, or function, esp. as a support. 9. a. A bar, pole, stem, or beam used as a support or prop (esp. in Shipbuilding and Mining).The sense in quots. 1554, 1564 is uncertain. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > prop stipera1000 prop1440 shorec1440 lega1475 stut1559 spurn1620 stilt1633 Dutchman1859 a1475 Bk. Quinte Essence (1889) 5 Take what vessel of glas þat ȝe wole, or of erþe strongly glasid, and þer-vpon a round foot of glas wiþ a leg. 1554 in R. Adam Edinb. Rec. (1899) I. 119 The expensis..on the bigging of the Schoir of Leyth... Item, for ane draucht of laiggis fra the Borromure to the schoir iij s. vj d. 1564 Protocol. Bks. T. Johnsoun (1920) 138 Sex pece of curtenis of lynnyng with the leggis..ane pair of curtenis..with the leggis. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. iv. 73 One end of the Carriage is supported with two Legs, or a Fork of three foot high. 1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 81 'Tis set upon the Ground by means of three Legs or Staves..put into as many Sockets below the Ball... The lesser sort..require but one Leg. 1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Leg. 1. S[cotland]. A wooden prop supporting one end of a bar. 2. Y[orkshire]. A stone which has to be wedged out from beneath a larger one. 1886 R. C. Leslie Sea-painter's Log iv 68 The yacht is likely to fall over, and, breaking her leg under her, receive serious damage. 1945 Pop. Mech. Sept. 137/1 The prop consists of two legs, which are long pieces of 2 by 4-in. stock pivoted together in the center. 1997 D. M. Farrar in G. F. Read & I. Vickridge Sewers I. vii. 129 (caption) Timber framed and boarded pit for manhole construction... Ground prop or leg. b. spec. Each of the two or more poles or masts which are fastened together to make shears for lifting or supporting loads (see shear n.¹ 4). ΚΠ 1793 J. Chalmers in J. Clerk Reps Culross & Valleyfield Collieries 43 Estimate of probable expence of removing the articles of the Kincardine Fire-engine... To shear legs and capstone. 16 5 0. 1832 C. S. Drewry Mem. Suspension Bridges 72 To drive the second clump which was in deeper water, two pairs of shears were floated out at high tide, and then their legs sunk at low tide by fastening stones to them. 1857 J. M. Boyd Man. Naval Cadets 127 If the sheers are very large, additional guys—belly guys—are put on half-way up the sheer legs. 1872 Engineering 17 May 329/1 The compact arrangement of machinery now illustrated has been designed in order to reduce the space to be occupied by the machinery and the back leg of the sheers to a minimum. 1949 Boys' Life May 14/2 (caption) The 4′ cross piece is placed on the legs, 2 feet from ends. Lash cross piece to shears with two square lashings. 1995 Man. Seamanship (Admiralty) 3-203 When the head lashing has been completed the heels of the legs are opened out to the required distance. 10. A plant stem or root; the trunk of a young tree. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > stem or stalk > [noun] stealc700 stemc888 spirea1000 stalka1366 caulc1420 codd?1440 stalec1440 thighc1440 shank1513 pipe?1523 start?1523 spindle1577 leg1597 scape1601 haulm1623 caulicle1657 culm1657 thyrse1658 scapus1704 stemlet1838 stam1839 caulis1861 caulome1875 tige1900 the world > plants > part of plant > root > [noun] moreeOE rootc1175 master-rootc1330 rootinga1400 radix1558 leg1597 taproot1601 top-root1651 tuberous root1668 heart-root1669 pivot1725 spill1766 tap1796 tutty-more1873 pneumatophore1891 stem root1901 heart-root1903 the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > stem, trunk, or bole stovenc1000 bolec1314 bodyc1330 stock1340 shaft1398 stealc1440 truncheonc1449 trunk1490 stud1579 leg1597 butt1601 truncus1706 stam1839 1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 45 In English it is called Spiderwoort..for this cause..; The leaues..stand vpon the ground with long legs, and the knees bowing vp like the spiders legs when he creepeth. 1673 N. Grew Idea Phytol. Hist. ii. i. 59 The shape of some Roots is inverted; for whereas most are parted downwards into several Legs, some are parted upwards into divers Necks. 1792 A. Swinton Trav. Norway, Denmark, & Russia 503 Stock, the leg or stem of a plant. 1872 Gardener's Mag. 9 Mar. 127/1 If they [sc. tender annuals] are running up with long legs, prick them out and plant them in the fresh soil deep enough to cure their legginess. 1876 Gardeners' Chron. 22 July 103/1 Like many other plants, it [sc. the chrysanthemum] is not all perfection, and has an objectionable length of leg. 1900 Country Life Illustr. 6 Jan. When..the trees are grown with a single stem, or ‘leg’, as the gardener calls it, there need be no trouble upon the score of sucker growth. 1940 D. Hall Genus Tulipa ix. 128 Leaves usually three on a leg, lowest about 4 cm. from ground level,..pointed, glaucous, sometimes with faint purple broken stripes. 1989 Home & Garden Dec. 28/3 Nuts..are grown on a single stem or ‘leg’, with seven or eight main branches radiating from the top of this. 11. Each of the sides of a triangle (in later use esp. those forming the right angle of a right-angled triangle); a segment of a curve or geometric figure lying to one side of a given vertex or cusp (frequently with distinguishing word, as hyperbolic leg, parabolic leg, etc.). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > geometry > shape or figure > [noun] > two-dimensional > triangle > side or segment of casus?a1560 hypotenuse?a1560 shank1587 leg1603 crure1610 hypotenusal1648 crus1712 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1020 The triangle with three unequall legs made the pyrimidall body. 1659 J. Moxon Tutor to Astron. (1674) vi. i. 184 The Legs of a Right Angled Spherical Triangle. 1702 J. Raphson Math. Dict. Isosceles Triangle is a Triangle that has two equal Legs. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Curve The Legs of Curves..are either of the Parabolic or Hyperbolic Kind: an Hyperbolic Leg, being that which approaches infinitely towards some Asymptote; a Parabolic, that which has no Asymptote. 1839 Observer & Rec. Agric., Sci., & Art. 1 July 158/1 Sir Isaac Newton reduces all curves..into those with hyperbolic legs, and those with parabolic ones. 1859 Math. Monthly Apr. 254 These sides are then called the legs of the triangle, while the third side is called the hypothenuse. 1934 Sewerage Wks Jrnl. 6 197 The author also studied the decreasing leg of the curve to which we need make no further reference at this point. 1964 A. H. Beiler Recreations in Theory of Numbers (1966) xiv. 104 The Pythagorean theorem, which states that the sum of the squares on the legs of a right-angled triangle is equal to the square on the hypotenuse. 2004 Winchester (Va.) Star 6 Mar. I b4/5 Travelling two legs of a triangle, instead of the hypotenuse, adds more length to the line. 12. Nautical. A part of a device such as a crowfoot (crowfoot n. 4a) which divides a single load into a number of points of attachment; (more generally) a rope which forms a connection (in various applications). Cf. centipede n. 3. Now chiefly historical.See also cat-harping legs, variant of cat-harpings n. at harpings n. 2. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > types of short ropes leg1611 snorter1750 snotter1815 pigtail1894 1611 S. Pepys MS 2911 (Magdalene Coll. Cambr.) 125/2 The foremaste tacle... The legge. 1625 in Mariner's Mirror (1919) 5 128/1 The martlets..ar fastened at every end to a small lope called legs. 1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. v. 24 Legs are small ropes put thorow the bolt ropes of the maine and fore saile, neere to a foot in length, spliced each end into the other in the leech of the saile, hauing a little eye whereunto the martnets are fastened by two hitches. 1737 W. Pardon Dyche's New Gen. Eng. Dict. (ed. 2) (at cited word) Those small Ropes that are put thro' the Bolt Ropes of the Main and Fore-Sail in the Leetch of the Sail..these are called Legs of the Martnets. 1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 169 Legs, short ropes which branch out into two or more parts, as the bowline-legs or bridles, buntline-legs, crowfoot-legs, &c. 1860 Mercantile Marine Mag. 7 113 A leach-line is bent on each yard-arm, then carried through thimbles on the band,..thence up before the sail, and the two meet and fall to deck in one leg. 1965 Mariner's Mirror 51 241 Stouter line for making legs to attach crab-pots to a main line. 2009 O. A. Eriksen Constitution 72 The Hull Model shows the lower end of the mizzen stay spliced with a ‘leg’ to the stay aft of the mainmast and a U-shaped metal heart inserted with a spreader rod. 13. a. Each of the supports of a piece of furniture or equipment, or of a building or structure which is raised from the ground.chair-leg: see chair n.¹ Compounds 1a. table leg: see table n. Compounds 1a(a). ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > [noun] > parts of furniture generally > leg or support leg1616 Marlborough leg1788 therm1788 monopodium1807 cabriole leg1844 pedestal1851 cabriole1888 sabre leg1952 1616 in J. Imrie & J. G. Dunbar Accts. Masters of Wks. (1982) II. 19 For ane grit ferr jeist to David Andersoun the plumber to be leggis to his muild. 1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. x. 177 The Legs and Cheeks are to be fastned with Braces to the Floor..of the Room the Lathe stands in. 1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 147 [He] was straitway extended flat upon his belly, on the bench, with a pillow under his face; and as he thus tamely lay, I tied him slightly hand and foot, to the legs of it. 1785 W. Cowper Task i. 19 Joint-stools were then created; on three legs Upborne they stood. 1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xlvi. 501 Mr. Pickwick grated the legs of his chair against the ground. 1895 N.Y. Times 24 Mar. 29/5 One leg of the steel-pointed camera tripod was thrust into the sleeping snake. 1956 Mariner's Mirror 42 280 There is another line forward of the A-frame, so I am suggesting that this is the third leg of a tripod mast. 1997 Washington Post 10 July (Home section) 20/1 Houses on legs are a familiar sight along the ocean or the bay, given the requirements for storm tolerance or dune preservation. 2012 A. Cahill Life Happens i. 4 I stubbed my toe on the leg of the coffee table as I ran around it. b. Oil Industry. Each of the steel columns extending below the main deck of an offshore oil platform or rig, used to float and stabilize the structure or to rest it on the seabed. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > oil and natural gas recovery equipment > [noun] > platform > beam supporting deck leg1931 skid1975 skid beam1976 1866 U.S. Patent 58,235 2/1 In combination with the derrick-frame AAB, the pivoted foot at the end of the leg B of the frame, as and for the purpose described.] 1931 U.S. Patent 1,811,761 2/1 [Submarine Oil Well Derrick]. The derrick..is shown partly broken away for convenience... Each of the four legs is positioned immediately above the vertical uprights. 1954 Business Week 10 Apr. 75/1 When the legs have been driven far enough to carry the load, the barge is lifted out of the water to the desired height. 1969 Punch 26 Feb. 313/2 The control room man can flood or pump out the legs just by squeezing small levers—four thousand tons of water in each leg, and she sinks to rest on the sea bottom. A bit less and she floats. 1992 D. McLean Bucket of Tongues 38 There was a couple of divers doing maintenance on the outside of the leg. 2009 A. Rae Oil, Plastics & Power 11/1 The legs of the platform act like an artificial reef. 14. Each of the two branches of a forked, jointed, or curved object or structure. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > constituent part or component > of a complex structure or instrument > of a forked or jointed object leg1644 1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xiiii. 120 The two legges of a compasse. 1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 120 The Legs of a Carpenter's Joynt-Rule. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Compasses The common Compasses consist of two Branches or Legs. 1801 T. Jefferson Writings (1893–9) VII. 482 A rainbow, therefore,..plunges one of it's legs down to the river. 1866 Croquet: Implem. & Laws 10 A ball is Wired when it cannot effect the stroke desired on account of the leg of a hoop (wire) intervening. 1923 N.Y. Times 2 Sept. x. 12/2 Men are at work stripping away the river bank and the face of the cliffs preliminary to the building of abutments on which the legs of the arch will rest. 2015 Oskaloosa (Iowa) Herald (Nexis) 25 Feb. (State & Regional News section) The two points on the legs of the compass help mark the map with accurate distances on the paper while adapting miles to scaled distances. 15. Mining and Geology. Each of the descending parts on either side of the axis of an anticline (cf. sense 14); either of the two descending lateral prolongations of a coal deposit, gold-bearing quartz reef, etc., situated in a saddle or anticline.In quot. 1877 more generally: a portion of a mineral deposit protruding downwards into other strata. ΚΠ 1858 H. D. Rogers Geol. Pennsylvania II. 58 On the W. side the bed exhibits an anticlinal dip in the drift, with the coal 10 feet thick on each side of the axis. Extending the drift along the Northern or steepest leg of the arch, the dip suddenly changes from 35° or 40° N. almost to perpendicular. 1877 J. Geikie Great Ice Age (ed. 2) 378 The men..informed me that it was only a ‘leg’, and was connected with the stuff at the top—from which they said several such ‘legs’ had come. 1881 Reps. Mining Surveyors & Registrars (Victoria) Mar. 34 As the lode deepens it assumes a saddle shape, thence forming two reefs; the western leg underlaying west 72 degrees. 1896 C. D. Walcott Cambrian Rocks Pennsylvania (Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. No. 134.) 15 The southern leg of Dr. Frazer's anticline is formed of rocks that bear no resemblance to the Mesozoic Red sandstone. 1917 Austral. Statesman & Mining Standard 4 Jan. 9/3 The work on the west leg of the Central Blue reef has not disclosed gold up to the present. 1976 J. D. Ridge Annotated Bibliogr. Min. Deposits Afr., Asia, & Australasia 448 Leg reefs continue down a bedding fault or plane from a saddle reef or are isolated below the saddle. 1987 G. Capello et al. in G. Matheron & M. Armstrong Geostatist. Case Stud. 74 The first [zone]..is slightly inclined and highly irregular with throws of up to 90 m. It represents the western leg of the anticline. 2003 W. D. Birch & A. H. M. VandenBerg in W. D. Birch Geol. Victoria i. 10 (caption) Upper S3 Reef—East Leg (some 10 m below the cap and 650 m below surface) within the No. 3 ribbon of the Sheepshead Anticline, Bendigo goldfield. 16. Lacemaking. A thread which links patterns together into a larger piece. Cf. bride n.² 4. Chiefly in plural. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > pattern > network which connects patterns bar1852 brides1864 leg1864 1864 Athenæum 24 Dec. 851/3 These connecting threads were called, in English, ‘Pearl-ties’ and ‘Cockscombs’; the Italians called them ‘Legs’. 1865 F. B. Palliser Hist. Lace xxii. 263 Early guipure of Venice or darned network, in which the raised flowers were strung together by legs or brides. 1900 E. Jackson Hist. Hand-made Lace 214 Legs,..the connecting threads thrown across spaces in needlepoint and bobbin laces. 1988 B. M. Cook Torchon Lace Workbook 47 Twist each leg pair twice more. 17. In plural. (A humorous nickname for) the number eleven in the game of bingo; short for legs eleven n. at Compounds 2a. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > bingo or lotto > [noun] > specific numbers clickety-click1917 legs eleven1917 legs1933 1933 L. A. G. Strong Sea Wall 256 A game of ‘house’ was in progress and a voice monotonously droned the numbers: ‘..legs... Kelly's eye.’ 1987 J. Green Dict. Jargon 56/2 Bingo calls, doctor's orders (9); legs (11); key of the door (21); all the t(h)rees, Epping Forest (33); droopy drawers (44). 2000 Evening Herald (Plymouth) (Nexis) 5 May (What's On Suppl.) 24 Two little ducks, the key of the door, legs, two fat ladies, Heinz varieties. Bingo and its lingo may seem quaint.., but to thousands of fanatics it's nothing short of a religion. 18. In plural. In wine tasting: the liquid trails that cling briefly to the sides of a glass after the wine has been swirled. Also known as tears. ΚΠ 1971 N.Y. Mag. 20 Dec. 41/1 (advt.) A full bodied wine will come down the glass in ‘sheets’. A lighter wine will break into ‘legs’. 1983 D. Stewart Cellars Market 173 That wine is..beautiful... The colour, the bouquet, the legs round the glass. All perfect. 2009 E. McCarthy et al. Wine All-in-One for Dummies i. v. 74 A wine's legs are a complicated phenomenon having to do with the surface tension of the wine and the evaporation rate of the wine's alcohol. III. Senses referring to people. 19. depreciative. A swindler, esp. a swindling bookmaker; = blackleg n. 2. Now historical. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > worker according to manner of working > [noun] > striking > refusing to strike dung1765 scab1777 knobstick1794 leg1815 rat1824 nob1825 black1826 blackneb1832 blacknob1838 knob1839 snob1839 blackleg1844 snob-stick1860 non-striker1868 ratter1890 strike-breaker1904 1815 Sporting Mag. 45 39 The Goose that laid the Golden Egg should be a lesson to the legs on the turf. 1884 H. Smart From Post to Finish xxiii. 172 The world regards me as a compound of leg and money-lender. 1967 K. Giles Death & Mr. Prettyman x. 185 Ferdinand followed the profession of being a ‘leg’, as they called crooked gamblers. 20. U.S. slang. A woman, esp. one who is attractive or (in later use) promiscuous. Also occasionally in plural.In later use probably influenced by sense 8. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > woman > [noun] wifeeOE womaneOE womanOE queanOE brideOE viragoc1000 to wifeOE burdc1225 ladyc1225 carlinec1375 stotc1386 marec1387 pigsneyc1390 fellowa1393 piecec1400 femalea1425 goddessa1450 fairc1450 womankindc1450 fellowessa1500 femininea1513 tega1529 sister?1532 minikinc1540 wyec1540 placket1547 pig's eye1553 hen?1555 ware1558 pussy?a1560 jade1560 feme1566 gentlewoman1567 mort1567 pinnacea1568 jug1569 rowen1575 tarleather1575 mumps1576 skirt1578 piga1586 rib?1590 puppy1592 smock1592 maness1594 sloy1596 Madonna1602 moll1604 periwinkle1604 Partlet1607 rib of man1609 womanship?1609 modicum1611 Gypsy1612 petticoata1616 runniona1616 birda1627 lucky1629 she-man1640 her1646 lost rib1647 uptails1671 cow1696 tittup1696 cummer17.. wife1702 she-woman1703 person1704 molly1706 fusby1707 goody1708 riding hood1718 birdie1720 faggot1722 piece of goods1727 woman body1771 she-male1776 biddy1785 bitch1785 covess1789 gin1790 pintail1792 buer1807 femme1814 bibi1816 Judy1819 a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823 wifie1823 craft1829 shickster?1834 heifer1835 mot1837 tit1837 Sitt1838 strap1842 hay-bag1851 bint1855 popsy1855 tart1864 woman's woman1868 to deliver the goods1870 chapess1871 Dona1874 girl1878 ladykind1878 mivvy1881 dudess1883 dudette1883 dudine1883 tid1888 totty1890 tootsy1895 floozy1899 dame1902 jane1906 Tom1906 frail1908 bit of stuff1909 quim1909 babe1911 broad1914 muff1914 manhole1916 number1919 rossie1922 bit1923 man's woman1928 scupper1935 split1935 rye mort1936 totsy1938 leg1939 skinny1941 Richard1950 potato1957 scow1960 wimmin1975 womyn1975 womxn1991 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn 278 ‘Get a look at that,’ he'd say, pointing to a girl strolling along the sidewalk. ‘Jesus, what a leg!’ 1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §427/2 Well-formed young woman,..legs. 1970 Current Slang (Univ. S. Dakota) 4 20 Leg, n. A girl. 1977 Amer. Speech 1975 50 62 Leg, promiscuous female, one who readily engages in sexual intercourse. 21. U.S. Military slang (derogatory). An infantry soldier. Cf. grunt n. 2b. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by branch of army > [noun] > foot-soldier footmanc1325 page?a1400 pieton?1473 foot soldier1587 rondache1607 peon1609 tolpatch1705 foot wobbler1785 wobbler1785 doughboy1835 fantassin1835 mud-crusher1864 web foot1866 grabby1868 infantryman1883 flat-foot1889 gravel-crusher1889 foot-slogger1894 PBI1916 mud-slogger1936 infanteer1944 leg1969 1969 I. Kemp Brit. G.I. in Vietnam ii. 25 Come on you bunch of sick legs! 1978 T. O'Brien Going after Cacciato 155 He grinned and gestured at Oscar's boots. ‘You guys are legs, I guess. Grunts.’ 2002 Atlanta Jrnl.-Constit. (Nexis) 11 May 1 a As an infantry soldier, he is still a ‘leg’, in the parlance of his Airborne-qualified father and uncles. IV. Cricket. Senses relating to the leg side (leg side n.). 22. A fielding position in line with or a short distance behind the wicket on the leg side; a fielder occupying this position. Frequently and now only with modifying adjective, as long leg (long leg n. 4), short leg (short adj., n., and adv. Compounds 6d), square leg (square adj. Compounds 3a), etc. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] > fielder > fielders by position middle wicket1772 long-stop1773 second stop1773 stop1773 long fieldsman1790 long field?1801 third man1801 outscout1805 leg1816 point1816 slip1816 backstop1819 long fielder1835 long leg1835 long field off1837 short leg1843 square leg1849 cover-point1850 long-stopper1851 middle-off1851 cover-slip1854 long off1854 left fielder1860 short square1860 mid-off1865 extra cover (point)1867 deep-fielder1870 mid-on1870 cover1897 leg trap1897 infield1898 deep field1900 slipper1903 slip fieldsman1906 midwicket1909 infieldsman1910 slip-catcher1920 infielder1927 leg slip1956 1816 W. Lambert Instr. & Rules Cricket 41 Leg or hip. The person who takes this place should stand a little back of the straight line of the popping crease. 1858 Chambers's Information for People (new ed.) II. xiii. 688/2 Leg should stand rather behind the striker, in a diagonal line, about twelve or sixteen yards from the wicket. 1880 Times 28 Sept. 11/5 The men were placed thus:—Mr. Jarvis, wicket-keeper;..Bannerman, leg [etc.]. 1951 People 3 June 8/6 Then Flavell got Rogers caught at short leg at 98. 2014 Daily Tel. 25 Apr. (Sport section) 16/4 He responded by becoming a notorious blocker, compounding the frustration of bowlers with his habit of walking halfway to square leg between deliveries. 23. = leg side n. Usually as the object of a preposition and now usually without article, as in e.g. to hit to (the) leg. Cf. off n. 4. In early use often in reference to the section of the leg side of the field in line with or behind the stumps; cf. sense 22. Used in preference to on as the contrast of off in uses relating to bowling (see e.g. quot. 1935). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > parts of field long field1828 leg1833 silly point1862 deep field1870 country1878 infield1898 the deep1906 rough1952 society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricket ground > [noun] > side leg side?1801 offside1816 leg1833 on-side1833 off1836 on1836 long on1843 long off1854 1833 New Sporting Mag. Sept. 325 ‘Look to the leg,’ aye there it goes, One—two—three—how they're running! 1843 ‘Wykhamist’ Pract. Hints Cricket 18 As soon as ever the Ball is pitched to the leg. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 397 A beautifully pitched ball for the outer stump, which the..unfeeling Jack..hits right round to leg for five. 1927 G. A. Terrill Out in Glare v. 89 Leg was almost an empty area so far as fielders were concerned. 1935 Manch. Guardian 23 May 3/3 Hammond bowled slower than he usually does and got a prodigious swerve from leg to off in collaboration with the wind. 1955 Times 4 July 3/3 Yet just when he seemed assured of a 50..his attempted sweep to leg at a straight enough ball was rather too saucy. 2014 Sunday Times (South Africa) (Nexis) 26 Oct. (Sport section) Trent Boult backed away to leg to make some space to smash the ball all the way to the south island. V. A part or section of something. 24. A distinct stage or stretch of a voyage, journey, course, or (later) race. a. Nautical. The course and distance sailed on a single tack (tack n.¹ 6a). ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of wind > [noun] > continuous sail on one tack stretch1675 reach1830 leg1846 1846 Graham's Mag. Dec. 287/2 The Swash was under what Mrs. Budd might have called her ‘attacking’ canvas, and was close by the wind, looking on a good leg well up the harbor. 1892 H. G. Hutchinson Fairway Island 20 I'll fetch down on a long leg, and catch the ‘Pengelley’ on a single tack. 1895 Daily News 8 July 8/6 Valkyrie..preferred a series of short legs off Wemyss Bay to weather the Skelmorlie. 1920 Blackwood's Mag. Feb. 166/1 On each new ‘leg’ of our zigzags, our eyes were straining over ever-new horizons. 1993 E. A. Proulx Shipping News xxvi. 210 Quoyle did not understand how to tack a zigzag across the bay, a long run with the wind and waves on his bow and then a short leg with the wind on his quarter. b. Sailing. In a race: a side of the course between two marks. ΚΠ 1885 Forest & Stream 20 Aug. 76/2 The wind favored him on the windward leg. 1901 Rudder Oct. 381/2 The Columbia beat the Constitution 1 minute 53 seconds on the leeward leg of fifteen miles. 1964 Motor Boating Dec. 51 The ideal course makes the three legs equal in length. 1998 Yachts & Yachting 21 Aug. 95/2 On the downwind leg Reay sailed well wide to find some extra wind and pass Colin Meadows in the leading Arun boat. 2014 Advocate (Burnie, Tasmania) (Nexis) 16 Dec. 30 Rob Rickard headed the fleet to the first mark after a long windward leg. c. gen. A part or stage of a journey. ΘΚΠ society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [noun] > a stage in a journey mansiona1382 journey1490 gests1550 jessa1593 stage1603 stade1616 manzil1619 skoff1785 pipe1793 leg1898 lap1932 1898 Piqua (Ohio) Daily Call 6 Oct. This [sc. 4,100 miles] is the length of line our battleships..will have to travel on the provisions and coal they will carry in them on the first leg of their journey to Manila. 1927 National Geographic Mag. Aug. 185/2 (heading) First non-stop leg of the journey was 1,400 miles. 1973 C. Bonington Next Horizon xiii. 196 We squeezed out of the snow cave for the last leg down to Scheidegg. 1999 Mirror 15 June 15/3 If you're travelling a long way and you do want to take the car for the first leg of the journey there is a Park and Ride system being set up. 2013 Radio Times 30 Nov. (South/West ed.) 78/2 He starts the next leg of his journey in Bordeaux. d. Sport. A section of a race done in stages. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > [noun] > part of half1897 leg1931 stage1943 1931 Pop. Mech. Mar. 435/1 Both drove for all they were worth on the last leg of the [sled dog] race. 1959 Life 13 July 27/1 An army of cyclists gets a hand-waving welcome on an early leg of the Tour de France. 1990 Independent (Nexis) 3 Jan. (Sport section) 30 Peter Blake..and Grant Dalton..continued their fierce battle..in the third leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race. 2014 M. Evans & J. M. Cappaert Triathletes in Motion viii. 276 It is the running leg of the triathlon that very often determines who makes the podium and who falls just short. e. Esp. Athletics and Swimming. A section of a relay race completed by a single team member. Recorded earliest in anchor leg at anchor n.¹ Compounds 1b. ΚΠ 1933 Brownsville (Texas) Herald 9 Mar. 7/1 Pat..ran the anchor leg on the winning relay. 1955 N.Y. Times 23 Jan. 3/6 Wiggins swam his leg of the relay in 56 seconds flat. 1989 Guardian (Nexis) 11 Sept. Todd Bennett..pulled up a place on a fast leg but lost it, only to work an advantage in a scrambled changeover. 2008 Metro (Nexis) 22 Aug. (London ed.) 60 The USA again dropped the baton on the final leg but the British quartet..safely progressed to the final. 25. a. Betting (originally Australian and New Zealand). Each part of a cumulative bet; (before the late 20th cent. usually) each part of a single bet on the two (often consecutive) horse races which make up a double (see double n. Additions and daily double n. at daily adj. and n. Compounds). ΚΠ 1881 Melbourne Punch 14 July 14/1 I beat Berry, and now that I want to get the second leg in of the double, they [sc. the bookmakers] immediately try to nobble me, and want me scratched right off. 1884 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) 26 July 3/1 Here and in Australia, whether the dead heat occurs in connection with the first or second ‘leg’ of the double event, the money is put together and divided. 1933 Winnipeg Free Press 29 May 4/5 In the grandstand, conferring with his friends, and stating which horses he had picked for the first leg of the double. 1978 Royal Comm. Gambling: Final Rep. II. 479 in Parl. Papers 1977–8 (Cmnd. 7200) VII. 285 If a punter fails to choose the winner of the first leg of a double or treble with a bookmaker, the stakes are lost. 1997 Sporting Life (Nexis) 19 June 9 England to win 2-0 and Shearer to be first-scorer at odds of 8-1 and 4-1 are related contingencies, where the outcome of one leg of the bet affects the outcome of the other. 2015 Sunday Times (Ireland ed.) (Nexis) 15 Mar. (Business section) 5 Top horse..Annie Power was the final leg of hundreds of accumulator bets. b. Sport. Each of the matches that constitute a single tie in a cup or tournament; esp. (chiefly in Association Football) each of a pair of matches in which two teams play each other at home and away with the aggregate score deciding the tie. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > game or definite spell of play > specific one of series heata1663 rubber game1793 round1837 rubber match1843 tie-match1864 final1880 postseason1882 semi-final1884 preliminary1886 cup-tie1895 play-off1895 tie1895 leg1899 repechage1899 qualifier1908 quarter-final1916 playdown1918 rounder1918 go-around1933 quick death1938 semi1942 pretrial1946 quarter1950 barrage1955 tie-breaker1961 semi-main1968 tie-break1970 breaker1979 1899 Sunday Post (Boston) 5 Mar. 19/6 The Hub rollers won the first leg of a series of three matches. 1913 Salt Lake Tribune 10 June 6/4 McLoughlin..defeated..Doust of the Australian team in three straight sets today, giving America the first leg of the Davis cup elimination series. 1945 Times 7 Nov. 8/5 In the event of a draw on aggregate after the second leg extra time shall be played 10 minutes each way. 1977 Winnipeg Free Press 8 Dec. 73/2 Barcelona..qualified for the quarter-final round of the UEFA Cup..by beating Ipswich..on penalty kicks after a 3-3 standoff following the completion of home and away legs. 1984 K. Macklin Story of Rugby League vi. 91 Jim Sullivan..kicked three goals in the second leg against a team for which he..had guested. 2015 Independent (Nexis) 30 July (Sport section) 56 The Scottish champions have a goal to defend in the return game..although on the evidence of the first leg the tie is far from over. c. Darts. A single game in a match. ΚΠ 1929 Oelwein (Iowa) Daily Reg. 24 June 2/5 Perhaps the Wolf's Head or the Flower Pot team wins the first ‘leg’ from the Queen's Arms or the Duke of York. 1981 D. Whitcombe How to play Darts iii. 13 In the third and decisive leg I got to a double first. 1992 Darts World Oct. 45/3 Though kitty was back on 224, she hit 138, 37 and 49 to wrap the leg. 2015 Radio Times 28 Feb. (South/West ed.) 27/2 Darts..has the best finish of any sport ever invented. Every time you want to win a leg or a set you must finish on a ‘double,’ the hardest shot of all. d. Sport. Each of the matches, races, tournaments, etc., that must be won in order to achieve a particular set of victories, esp. in a series of major championships or important matches or races in a particular sport in the same year (e.g. grand slam n. 1c, triple crown n. at triple adj. and adv. Compounds 1c). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > set or series, considered as an achievement > match, etc., in leg1935 1935 Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 17 June 6/4 Bobby smashed the hopes by winning the title, second leg of the grand slam he scored in 1930. 1948 Washington Post 14 May 5 b/3 Only three colts were left to vie with Calumet's Citation in the famous test of a mile and three sixteenths, the second leg of the Triple Crown. 1989 Times (Nexis) 4 Sept. Simon Berrisford and Steven Redgrave face the first leg of their attempt to win both pair-oar events. 2009 M. J. Fisher Terrible Splendor 260 He [sc. Don Budge] led the U.S. Davis Cup team in defending the Cup successfully against the Australians, and then it was time for the final leg of the Grand Slam. 26. Stock Market. a. A stage, period, or phase of a market trend relating to either rising or falling stock prices. ΚΠ 1931 Barron's 31 Aug. 28/3 In every bear market there is one last technical rebound against the primary down trend which must necessarily be at the same time the first leg of a new bull market. 1967 Financial Analysts Jrnl. 23 155/1 This turned out to be the first leg of a bear market following the dynamic eighteen-fold bull market rise from 1948 to 1960. 1978 Financial Times 21 Oct. 4/5 This second leg of a rally which began last April has finally succumbed to a pessimistic interpretation of current economic reality. 2007 R. C. Carlson Invest like Fox vi. 167 All of the value funds earned solid returns during the last leg of the bull market. b. Of an investment: any of various options in a spread or straddle (straddle n. 2a). ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > specific operations or arrangements intromission1567 hedginga1631 retiring1681 partnership1704 put1718 time bargain1720 bargain for time1721 option1746 call1825 put and call1826 cornering1841 corner1853 raid1866 pooling1871 squeeze1872 call option1874 recapitalization1874 short squeeze1877 split-up1878 margin call1888 pyramid1888 profit taking1891 pyramiding1895 underwriting1895 melon-cutting1900 round turn1901 market-making1902 put-through1902 put and take1921 round trip1922 put and take1929 leverage1931 split-down1932 switching1932 give-up1934 mark to market1938 recap1940 rollover1947 downtick1954 stock split1955 traded option1955 leg1959 stock splitting1959 rollover1961 split1972 spread betting1972 unitization1974 marking-to-market1981 swap1982 telebroking1984 1959 G. Gold Mod. Commodity Futures Trading xxii. 226 He may well have to suffer a loss on the second leg of the straddle too. 1969 N.Y. Mag. 17 Feb. 37/2 You put on a straddle, as we say. By the end of December the price has moved, so you have a loss on one leg of the straddle and a gain on the other. 1977 N.Y. Times 1 May f2/2 Each ‘leg’, or side of the spread should be in a different delivery month if one commodity is involved. 2009 M. D. Mullaney Compl. Guide Option Strategies xxxi. 471 As a result of entering a spread order, you will not be executed on only one leg of the transaction unless the entire transaction is executed. 27. U.S. Broadcasting. A supplementary network, connected to the main network, which provides coverage for a particular region. ΚΠ 1937 L. Lewis Radio Dict. in Printers' Ink Monthly May 39/1 Leg, a regional chain, i.e., one link of stations in a network. 1951 E. E. Willis Found. in Broadcasting iii. 47 Often these supplementary stations are organised into groups or legs, which provide coverage of an entire section. The networks all have West Coast legs, for example. 1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. (rev. ed.) XI. 252/2 Network legs are usually..one-way circuits from the AT&T office to the leg office and the stations they feed. 2000 G. Ansbro I have Lady in Balcony xvi. 73/2 During that pause my New England network leg would rejoin the regular network. Phrases Many of these phrases have (frequently now more common) parallel forms with foot. P1. Prepositional phrases. a. off one's legs. Cf. foot n. and int. Phrases 2b(a). (a) So as to be no longer standing. Sometimes (esp. in early use) used specifically to describe the effects of sickness or weakness; now usually in to go (also be) off one's legs. ΚΠ 1622 L. Digges tr. G. de Céspedes y Meneses Gerardo ii. iii. 468 About to haue giuen him a secret iogge, hee [sc. Leoncio] had like to set him off his legges to the ground. a1654 J. Murcot Several Wks. (1657) 629 The Prodigal was almost beaten off his leggs. 1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 188 Purging Comfits and Ants eggs Had almost brought him off his leggs. 1668 R. Alleine World Conquered 196 How little a wind will blow us off our legs? 1772 R. Warner tr. Plautus Twin Brothers Prol., in B. Thornton et al. tr. Plautus Comedies III. 6 Th'rapid river rap'd him off his legs, And snatch'd him to destruction. 1871 C. H. Hackley tr. T. Billroth Gen. Surg. Pathol. & Therapeutics xvi. 452 Rachitic children are rarely brought to the doctor before either the parents notice the thick limbs or distortion, or until, as the mother expresses it, ‘they are off their legs,’ i. e., they no longer wish to stand or walk. 1904 Clin. Jrnl. 23 Mar. 359/1 Many children who have had an acute illness will go off their legs for a long time. 1953 W. Powell-Owen Compl. Poultry Bk. (rev. ed.) ix. 135 Some of the birds went off their legs and laid a lot of shell-less eggs. 2004 Daily News (N.Y.) (Nexis) 18 Jan. 19 He was walking off the road behind his buddies when the explosive device knocked him off his legs. (b) To the point of exhaustion or collapse. Now usually in to run (a person) off his (also her) feet (or legs) at run v. Phrases 3b(a), to rush (a person) off his (also her) feet (or legs) at rush v.² Phrases 5. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > cause another to be weary or exhausted off his legs1631 to weary out1647 1631 B. Jonson Divell is Asse i. i, in Wks. II. 97 They ride 'hem [sc. vices] like their horses off their legges, And here they come to Hell, whole legions of 'hem, Euery weeke tyr'd. 1694 L. Echard tr. Plautus Epidicus v. vii, in tr. Plautus Comedies 120 'Sbudikins, you've almost walk'd me off my Legs tho'. 1776 W. Ward New Treat. Method Breeding Breaking & Training Horses 66 The horse is..trained off his legs before he comes to start. 1823 R. Heber Let. 6 Feb. in A. Heber Life R. Heber (1830) II. xxi. 122 I am really almost worked off my legs. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 159 Girls, who will dance him off his legs, unless he's very fit indeed. 1977 R. Park Swords & Crowns & Rings 190 Claudie and Iris, worked off their legs at the shop, tottered home late at night with bits of Belgian sausage and potato salad. (c) Into the air; off the ground. ΚΠ 1749 G. West tr. Lucian Of Gymnastick Exercises in tr. Pindar Odes p. clvi Tell me, Solon, what those Young Fellows are about... One of them, as you see, has lifted his Antagonist off his Legs, dashed him upon the Ground, and falling upon him, will not suffer him to rise. 1834 Farmer's Mag. May 13/1 Perhaps one of the best wrestles during the day was that between Nathaniel Robson and John Ewins, who was fairly lifted off his legs and compelled to measure his length on the grass by the former. 1928 Times 17 Dec. 17/5 The sensation of being lifted off one's legs is rare. 2005 Afr. News (Nexis) 24 Aug. A policeman who observed how the crowd had besieged her in the area and had come to her rescue was swept off his legs and carried away by the street urchins. b. on (also †upon) one's legs. (a) In a standing position; upright. (i) gen. Frequently in to get on (also †upon) one's legs and variants. Cf. foot n. and int. Phrases 2a(a), to get on one's feet at get v. Phrasal verbs 2. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > posture > action of standing up or rising > rise or be standing [verb (intransitive)] standOE to get on (also upon) one's legs1578 raise1884 1578 M. Tyler tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra Mirrour Princely Deedes xxxiv. sig. N.v The Gyant being of greate courage, and enforcing himselfe to indure the remnaunt, got on his legges, and..awayted Rosicleer. 1622 L. Digges tr. G. de Céspedes y Meneses Gerardo i. iii. 146 Had not our Gentleman beene on his legges,..and his whole selfe leaning to the Barke of a greene Willow, doubtlesse his fancie might (as a fained dreame) haue shaped, the Cottage, Shepheard, Voice, and Song. 1799 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 1 22 He was obliged to be on his legs the whole day. 1862 G. Borrow Wild Wales III. xiii. 126 Instantly the hound started upon his legs. 1969 A. Fugard Boesman & Lena (1971) ii. 55 Come!.. On your legs! We're going. 2009 P. Saris-Bertelsmann tr. F. W. Saris Darwin Meets Einstein 43 Ivan had a huge bottle of vodka at his mouth and emptied it in one gulp. Minutes later he could not stand on his legs anymore. (ii) spec. for the purpose of speaking in public, esp. to argue for or against an opinion, action, etc. Frequently in to get on (also upon) one's (hind) legs and variants. ΚΠ 1705 Observator 31 Jan. At last a worthy City Mouse stood up on its hind Legs, and made a Proposal how it should be done. 1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man ii. 24 When he speaks upon his legs, by the lord he's prodigious. 1792 J. Almon Anecd. Life W. Pitt (octavo ed.) I. xii. 230 Mr. Pitt upon his legs in the House of Commons, charged [etc.]. 1801 G. Rose Diaries (1860) I. 321 We found Mr. Sheridan on his legs, moving the adjournment of the House to Monday, to get rid of Mr. Nicholl's motion. 1832 J. P. Collier Diary 18 Feb. in Old Man's Diary (1871) 24 Mathews and his wife (who only appeared once for a few minutes) were quite upon their hind legs. 1887 J. R. Lowell Democracy & Other Addr. 30 Before the authorized and responsible debaters get on their legs. 1925 V. Woolf Mrs. Dalloway 114 Solemnly Richard Dalloway got on his hind legs and said that no decent man ought to read Shakespeare's sonnets. 1964 J. Masters Trial at Monomoy i. 26 That's why I'm on my hind legs now, asking you folks to keep calm. 2005 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 30 Sept. 13 So it's a bit rich chums to watch the PM getting upon his hind legs and receiving an ovation for all that. (b) In good health, esp. well enough to be up and about. Frequently in to set (a person) on (also †upon) his (also her, etc.) legs and variants: to restore (a person) to health. Cf. foot n. and int. Phrases 2a(b). ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > [phrase] > in fair health to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1587 among the middlings1826 1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 57 A Straunger..takes such tender care Of him,..As both recouers limmes and gettes his former strength, And settes this feeble seruant vp vpon his legges at length. 1698 G. Powell Imposture Defeated iii. 25 Gus. Iun. Is then the Duke recover'd, and my Friend the happy man, that wrought the wondrous Cure? Ped. Look ye, Sir, your Friend with some of my help, has set the Duke upon his Legs again. 1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 173 The weapon has missed your vitals, and only glanced along the rib; be of good courage; I engage, in a few weeks, to set you once more upon your legs. 1866 W. Collins Armadale iii. xii ‘Gin-and-bitters will put you on your legs again,’ whispered this Samaritan setter-right of the alcoholic disasters of mankind. 1928 C. S. Lewis Let. 25 Feb. (2000) I. 745 I am now on my legs again and indeed much better than I have been for many weeks. 2010 Austral. Mag. (Nexis) 14 Aug. 14 She was very sick, very ill, but she wanted to stay alive until the party. She was so proud to be on her legs again. She attended the party. (c) figurative. In a secure, prosperous, or favourable position; spec. so as to be financially self-sufficient. Frequently in to set (a person) on (also †upon) his (also her, etc.) legs, esp. with the implication of providing financial assistance. Also in extended use. Cf. to get (or set) (a person or thing) on his (her, etc.) feet at foot n. and int. Phrases 2a(d). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > cause to prosper or flourish [verb (transitive)] > put (a person) in prosperous condition on one's feetOE to set upa1616 to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1632 the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > promote or help forward (a person, plan, etc.) [verb (transitive)] furtherc888 fremeOE filsenc1175 fosterc1175 speeda1240 theec1250 advancec1300 upraisea1340 increasec1380 forthbearc1400 exploit?a1439 aid1502 to set forward(s)1530 farther1570 facilite1585 to set forthward1588 forward1598 facilitate1599 accommodate1611 succeed1613 bespeed1615 to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1632 subserve1645 push1758 support1779 leg up1817 1632 R. Sanderson 12 Serm. 494 A pound, that would..put him into fresh trading, set him vp on his legs, and make him a man for ever. 1698 J. Collier Short View Immorality Eng. Stage Pref. sig. A4^v Throwing in a Word or two; To..keep the English [language] upon its Legs. 1861 A. Trollope Tales of all Countries 132 But at any rate you might have the civility to listen to me when I am endeavouring to put you on your legs. 1884 Sat. Rev. 7 June 731/1 That English credit is not good enough to set Egypt..on her legs again. 2006 Times of India 22 Nov. 27/3 A clutch of east-Asian countries plus India should be active in ‘coalitions of the willing’ set the WTO [i.e. the World Trade Organization] on its legs again. c. on (also †upon) one's last legs. Formerly also †to one's last legs, †near one's last legs (obsolete). (a) At or near the end of one's life; close to death.In quot. 1614 as part of an extended metaphor. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > [noun] > point of death's gateOE the gate(s of death1340 lasta1382 (in) the article (formerly also articles) of death1483 death's door1515 the valley of the shadow of death1535 (one's) last gasp1564 death door1601 extremity1602 on one's last legs1614 verge1750 the Great (Continental) Divide1908 the world > life > death > dead person or the dead > [adjective] > dying deadlyc893 swelting?a1400 dyingc1450 at (the) utterance1525 in (the, his) extremes1551 parting1562 Acherontic1597 ending1600 departing1603 on one's last legs1614 expiring1635 mortifying1649 morient1679 upon one's last stretch1680 gasping1681 à la mort1700 moribund1721 outward-bound1809 terminal1854 on the brink of the grave1872 defunctive1929 1614 I. T. Horrible Creuel & Bloudy Murther sig. A4 The doating World limping on hir last legges. a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Old Law (1656) v. 59 Eug. My husband goes upon his last houre now. 1. Cour. On his last legs I am sure. 1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love ii. 25 He had brought me to my last legs. 1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret ii. 43 You was pretty near your last legs. 1798 C. Stearns Maid of Groves ii. iv. 207 Fayther's on his last legs—He has had another right snap of the gout. 1870 L. M. Alcott Let. 11 Aug. in E. D. Cheney L. M. Alcott (1889) ix. 245 The Emperor is on his last legs in every way. He is sick..and so nervous he can't command the army as he wanted to. 1974 W. Foley Child in Forest 73 'Im do only come to see if I be on me last legs. 2005 B. Keating & S. Keating Blood Sisters (2006) xxvii. 514 He's in hospital in Nairobi. On his last legs, poor man. (b) figurative. On the brink of ruin or collapse; almost completely worn out or spent as a force. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > tribulation, trouble, or affliction > having no resources left > at the end of resources on one's last legs1678 1678 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. (ed. 2) 89 A Bankrupt... He goes on's last legs. 1753 Pædo-baptism ii. 37 As his conclusion is now come to it's last legs; so it will be hard set, to maintain it's ground. 1846 T. De Quincey Syst. Heavens in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 569/1 If the Earth were on her last legs. 1895 Sunday Herald (Syracuse, N.Y.) 13 Jan. 11/5 Members wish to refute the assertions..that Hayes council ‘is on its last legs’. Never in the history of the council was it in better shape. 1952 Good Housek. (U.S. ed.) Dec. 102/2 All her sheets and pillowcases were on their last legs, and most of the New York stores were having August White Sales. 2003 B. Trapido Frankie & Stankie vii. 138 The green buses are always on their last legs, belching out streams of black smoke and overloaded with downtown workers. d. to stand on (also †upon) one's own (two) legs: (originally) to stand upright without assistance; (subsequently) to be self-sufficient or independent, esp. to support oneself financially. Also in extended use. Cf. to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) feet at foot n. and int. Phrases 2a(e). ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > independence > be independent [verb (intransitive)] > be self-sufficient to suffice to oneselfc1475 to shift for oneselfa1513 to work out (one's own) salvation1535 reside1610 to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) feet1621 to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) legs1623 shirk1843 to fish for oneself1867 to live on one's hump1909 1623 P. Massinger Duke of Millaine ii. i. sig. E1 The Duke stands now on his owne legs, and needs No nurse to leade him. 1666 S. Pepys Diary 7 Jan. (1972) VII. 6 I do fear those two families..are quite broken—and I must now stand upon my own legs. 1742 G. Turnbull Observ. Liberal Educ. 19 How then would you have young men able to stand upon their own legs, so as not to be dupes and bubbles when they come into the world? 1755 F. Brooke Old Maid No. 4. (1764) 24 I acknowledge you have had pretty good success, considering your daring attempt to stand on your own legs. 1818 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 33 9 A thing totally destitute of talent could never expect long to stand upon its own legs. 1888 E. A. Bennett Freemen or Slaves ii.30 You'll be a molly-coddle all your days; stand on your own legs, man—stand on your own legs. 1912 Collier's 12 Oct. 29/2 To learn to stand on your own two legs, and look out of your own two eyes, and work with your own two hands, and feed yourself—or starve! 2002 D. Tripathi in A. K. Bagchi Money & Credit Indian Hist. 139 The infuriated directors were in no mood to accept the erroneous interpretation which, if acted upon, would cripple the bank even before it stood on its own legs. †e. to come upon one's own legs: to do something of one's own free will, on one's merit, or without assistance from others. Also in extended use. Cf. on one's (own) feet (or †foot) at foot n. and int. Phrases 3b. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1628 J. Preston Treat. Effectual Faith 54 in Breast-plate of Faith (1631) Then When the Holy Ghost hath wrought upon the will, and hath turned that, then a man commeth upon his owne legs, and is moved from an inward principle of his owne. 1675 L. Addison Present State Jews ii. 25 He was certain whosoever lived piously and kept the Law, could not miss of being happy: or arriving the bliss to come upon his own leggs. 1866 Times 14 Mar. 9/5 Under the previous system, the ox, though he came on his own legs to the town, did not come alone, but in charge of a drover, whose services are now dispensed with. 1901 Financial Times 2 Aug. 3/2 The automobile is coming, has come, to stay, but it ought to come on its own legs, and not ask the railway carriage to take it up and carry it when it is tired. 1921 O. M. Salter Martha & Mary ii. v. 258 ‘If I come to your house at all I must come on my own legs,’ he said, enigmatically, and refused to be cajoled. Owen knew it was because he would not sit beneath Mary's charity. †f. to fall on (also †upon) one's legs: to be lucky; to find oneself in a favourable or successful position, esp. by good fortune. Cf. to fall on (also upon) one's feet at fall v. Phrases 1e. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > prosper or flourish [verb (intransitive)] > have good fortune light?c1225 urec1440 to fall on (also upon) one's feet1574 to fall on (also upon) one's legs1723 to strike it rich1834 to strike oil1860 to luck out1902 to hit the jackpot1910 to bottom on (also upon) gold1926 to strike lucky1951 to hit (also strike, etc.) pay dirt1953 to land on one's feet1958 1723 Duke of Wharton True Briton No. 26. 227 Private Men oftentimes fall on their Legs, and find Friends to relieve, or at least to commiserate them. 1768 J. Bentham Let. 30 Aug. in Corr. (1968) I. 133 I have also met with a College acquaintance. Throw me any where, you see, I can fall upon my Legs as well without as with you. 1841 E. Bulwer-Lytton Night & Morning II. ii. iii. 121 A man who has plenty of brains generally falls on his legs. 1886 L. M. Alcott Jo's Boys iv. 80 Don't fret, old dear; Emil is one of the happy-go-lucky sort who always fall on their legs. 1902 P. H. Fitzgerald Recoll. Dublin Castle & Dublin Society 188 Oh, my boy, he's fallen on his legs as usual; gone and married an heiress. 1910 Irish Homestead 24 Dec. 1066 Our exiles generally fall on their legs. g. on the leg: (of an animal, esp. a dog or a horse) having undesirably or disproportionately long legs; having legs which are longer than is usual for the species or standard for the breed. ΚΠ 1859 New Sporting Mag. Aug. 79 He is a trifle on the leg, but he looks what he was—a very clever horse at his fences. 1874 Bell's Life in London 19 Dec. 3/1 Both [dogs] are a bit on the leg, and to some eyes light in the body. 1901 Colman's Rural World 2 Jan. 7/2 The same exhibitors led among the yearlings..a pig that is a trifle on the leg but strong on his toes and very smooth in all his lines. 1999 K. Fox Racing Tribe (2009) x. 114 They exchange the same snippets of jargon... Such-and-such a runner is ‘a bit on the leg’, while another ‘fills the eye’. P2. In other adverbial phrases. †a. as right (also straight) as my leg: in good condition, in good order; spec. correct, accurate, true. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1636 J. Taylor Coaches Overthrow (single sheet) The Sick, the Weake, the Lame also, a Coach for ease might beg: When they on foot might lightly goe, that are as Right's my Leg. 1664 J. Wilson Cheats ii. iv. 26 T. T. All's well, and as right as my Leg. Bil. And that's crooked to my knowledge. 1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth IV. 141 Her bald-pate did look like an Ostrich's Egg, This Lady (thought I) is as right as my Leg. 1738 J. Swift Treat. Polite Conversat. i. 38 Lady Answ. But, Mr. Neverout, I wonder why such a handsome strait young Gentleman as you, does not get some rich Widow. Lord Sp. Strait! ay, strait as my Leg, and that's crooked at Knee. 1793 M. Pilkington Rosina III. xii. 88 Right, my old Holefernes! (exclaimed Richard, clapping him on the back in an ecstacy,) right as my leg! b. all legs and wings. (a) Having disproportionately long limbs; awkward or ungraceful in gait or bearing; gangly. Used typically of an adolescent. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > bodily height > tallness > [adverb] > and thin to be all legs and wings1777 lankily1903 1777 Morning Chron. 14 Feb. A young gentleman, remarkable for being tall and thin, attempted to be smart on a lady,..when she retorted, ‘that he was all legs and wings’. 1837 F. Marryat Snarleyyow (ed. 2) I. x. 126 [He] came shambling, all legs and wings, up the hatchway. 1902 C. Garvice Kyra's Fate xiv. 108 She had not been pretty, but had been an angular school-girl, all legs and wings and sharp corners. 1939 F. Thompson Lark Rise v. 98 Like a moll heron, all legs and wings. 1945 Times 9 May 8/4 Sun Storm..was not a racehorse at all. He was an unfledged youngster, all legs and wings. (b) Nautical. Of a sailing ship: = overmasted adj. Now historical. ΚΠ 1837 Bentley's Misc. Jan. 626 They belonged to a craft as laid in the harbour,—a reg'lar clipper, all legs and wings. 1881 Naval Encyl. 431/2 Legs and Wings, said of a vessel with masts of great height, and which consequently has too great spread of sail. 1904 E. R. Fremantle Navy as I have known It iii. 45 Her mainmast truck to water line was..147 feet, so that she was ‘all legs and wings’. 1988 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 27 Oct. 67 The exhibition includes a print of a ship nicknamed Giblet Pie because she was ‘all legs and wings’. c. in fine (also good, high) leg: in high spirits, elated. Cf. in fine, good, high, etc., feather at feather n. 2b. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adjective] > elated jollyc1305 elated1615 elevateda1640 on (also upon) the high ropes (also rope)1672 high1695 elate1702 uppisha1704 vaudyc1720 in fine (also good, high) leg1808 exalté1831 in high snuff1840 bucked1907 thrilled1908 twitterpated1942 1808 S. Smith Let. 8 Oct. in S. Holland Mem. S. Smith (1855) II. 38 The Mufti in high leg about the Spaniards. 1963 G. Heyer False Colours (2008) iii. 46 No one knows better than me the sort of bobbery he'll get up to when he's in high leg, but he wouldn't play nip-shot now . 1986 R. Thomas White Dove v. 120 Feeling in good leg are you, Nick boy? 1991 R. Coover Pinocchio in Venice ii. 27 You're showing the rope, I know, but a little supper, a glass of wine, and you'll soon be in fine leg! P3. Phrases with verbs. a. Originally and chiefly Theatre slang. break a leg: used to wish a person (esp. an actor) well before he or she gives a performance; ‘good luck’. [The semantic motivation is unclear; the likeliest explanation is that, according to theatrical superstition, it is considered unlucky to say the words ‘good luck’ to a performer. Many other suggestions have been made for the origin of the phrase, but few of them are supported by any evidence. A partial formal parallel is shown by German Hals- und Beinbruch!, lit. ‘may you break your neck and your leg!’ (1902 or earlier in a hunting context, 1913 or earlier in a theatre context), but evidence for direct influence of the German well-wishing phrase on the English use appears to be lacking.] ΚΠ 1925 F. Baldwin Thresholds 75 You say ‘I hope you break a leg’—or your neck—or some such hope of calamity. 1951 San Mateo (Calif.) Times 28 Aug. 16/6 When my cue came and I started to walk onstage, I heard her call to me: ‘Break a leg’. 1990 J. Cantalupo & T. C. Renner Body Mike 10 ‘You're on, Joey..showtime.’ I turned and walked toward the door leading to the courtroom... ‘Break a leg, Joey.’ 2005 J. Mullins School Play Stars v. 31 Rosa takes a peek through the curtains and looks out at the audience... ‘Hey Jules, it's time. Break a leg!’ b. to change (his, her, etc.) legs (or leg) and variants: (of a horse) to change step; to lead with the other leg. Cf. change v. 5. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [verb (intransitive)] > change gait or step to change (his, her, etc.) legs (or leg)1667 break1839 1667 Duke of Newcastle New Method to dress Horses ii. 150 When the Horse is upon the Motion, in the Swiftness of a Gallop, he Changes his Leggs Cross; which is the Action of a Trott. 1774 Gentleman's Mag. May 202/1 If a horse has much load either on him or behind him, he changes legs the instant he has brought that which is in action to a right angle with the ground. 1857 G. A. Lawrence Guy Livingstone ix He [sc. the horse] is in a white lather of foam, and changes his leg twice as he approaches. 1923 Scotsman 12 Sept. 9/3 Close home the filly appeared to change her legs, but this was probably due to the strong hold that Hulme had on her. 2007 Horse & Rider Oct. 22/1 Try to feel if he changes his legs as you were on the wrong leg around the last turn. c. to cock (also lift, †heave, etc.) (up) one's leg and variants: (of a dog) to urinate. Later also of other animals or (humorously) of a person. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [verb (intransitive)] > urinate to cock (also lift, heave, etc.) (up) one's legc1405 c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §858 An hound whan he comth by the Roser..though he may nat pisse, yet wole he heue vp his leg and make a contenance to pisse. ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 46 As dotit dog..liftis his leg apon loft thoght he nought list pische. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iv. iv. 36 When did'st thou see me heaue vp my leg, and make water against a Gentlewomans farthingale. View more context for this quotation 1754 Connoisseur No. 12 (1755) 71 A Hound..came jumping into the Hall, and running to the Justice-Seat lifted up his leg against the Judge's robe. 1781 H. Walpole Let. 6 May (1858) VIII. 38 He lifted up his leg, and just squirted contempt on them. 1810 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1959) III. 292 A man accustomed to cast words in metre and familiar with descriptive Poets & Tourists..must be troubled with a mental Strangury, if he could not lift up his leg six times at six different Corners, and each time p—— a canto. 1963 Times Lit. Suppl. 28 June 482/2 Cocking a leg at every regulation a mongrel dog won fame in Italy a few years ago by his habit of riding on trains. 1969 G. Greene Trav. with my Aunt i. vi. 52 The dogs..came up to the bed..it was lucky neither of them had raised a leg. 2010 J. Skivington Miracle Man xv. 238 Turning quickly away, he almost tripped over Limpy's dog, which was about to cock his leg at him. †d. Scottish. to draw a person's leg: to try to deceive or mislead another person in a playful way or as a joke. Cf. to pull a person's leg at pull v. Phrases 7a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > banter [verb (transitive)] > make a fool of playc1410 fordote1563 assot1583 noddy1600 noddypoop1640 to make a monkey (out) of1767 to draw a person's leg1851 rib1912 1851 W. Anderson Rhymes 196 He preached, an' at last drew the auld body's leg, Sae the kirk got the gatherin's o' our Aunty Meg. 1883 W. Aitken Lays of Line 63 Nae maitter hoo sairly his leg ye micht draw, Ye will ne'er howk a quarrel oot o' Sawney M'Graw. 1889 J. M. Barrie Window in Thrums vii. 64 Na, na, Marget, ye dinna draw my leg. 1928 A. E. W. Mason Prisoner in Opal iii. 27 ‘You draw my leg, eh?’ he said; and proud, as he always was of his mastery of English idioms, he repeated the phrase: ‘Yes, you draw my leg.’ e. British slang. to get (also †lay, †lift, have, throw) one's leg over and variants: (chiefly of a man) to have sexual intercourse. Cf. legover n. (a) With over as a preposition.In quot. 1599 as part of an extended double entendre; cf. ride v. 20. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity [verb (intransitive)] > have sexual intercourse > specifically of a man to hit the master-vein1592 possess1592 to get one's leg over1599 roger1763 to have one's way with1884 to dip (one's) wick1958 to lay pipe1967 the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > engage in sexual activity with [verb (transitive)] > have sexual intercourse with > specifically of a man jape1382 overliec1400 swivec1405 foilc1440 overlay?a1475 bed1548 possess1592 knock1598 to get one's leg over1599 enjoy1602 poke1602 thrum1611 topa1616 riga1625 swingea1640 jerk1650 night-work1654 wimble1656 roger1699 ruta1706 tail1778 to touch up1785 to get into ——c1890 root1922 to knock up1934 lay1934 pump1937 prong1942 nail1948 to slip (someone) a length1949 to knock off1953 thread1958 stuff1960 tup1970 nut1971 pussy1973 service1973 1599 H. Porter Pleasant Hist. Two Angrie Women of Abington sig. C Phil, Be they but Iades? Fran. No faith my wag string here Did founder one the last time that he rid, The best gray Nag that euer I laid my leg ouer. 1656 S. Holland Don Zara ii. i. 62 This vile woman, who has most egregiously abused the truest and Noblest Servant that ever laid leg over Lady. 1684 T. D'Urfey Choice New Songs 15 Let no sneaking Rebel e're lift a Leg o're thee. 1744 ‘H. Polesworth’ Hist. John Bull: Pt. III xx. 49 Bob..took John's Right-Hand, full of Gold as it was, and kiss'd and slabber'd it, as though it had been the Lips of the Lass he had last laid his Leg over. 1969 in Victorian Stud. (1971) 15 61 Let the man have a pint, and let his wife go to the pictures once a week; and if he gets his leg over her, he's quite satisfied. 2003 Marie Claire Dec. 177/1 He's not much more than a serial-cursing Lad About Town looking to get his leg over the nearest woman. (b) With over as an adverb. ΚΠ 1975 J. Pidgeon Flame i. 21 Still quite a one for the birds is our Jack. He'll be getting his leg over in the pension queue. 1980 D. Morris Tribal Words (typescript) (O.E.D. Archive) 391 It is sometimes said of a player that ‘he played so well today, he must have got his leg over last night’. 1991 M. Curtin Plastic Tomato Cutter (1996) xviii. 144 Throwing the leg over at random is the very stuff of sport yet in certain marriages it is not done. 2007 Now 21 May 11 When I was stuck at home on painkillers, he was getting his leg over. †f. to give leg (or legs): to flee or run away with stolen goods or contraband. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > run away or flee fleec825 afleeeOE atrina1000 atfleec1000 to run awayOE to turn to or into flighta1225 to turn the ridgec1225 atrenc1275 atshakec1275 to give backa1300 flemec1300 startc1330 to take (on oneself) the flighta1500 to take the back upon oneselfa1500 fly1523 to take (also betake) (oneself) to one's legs1530 to flee one's way1535 to take to one's heels1548 flought?1567 fuge1573 to turn taila1586 to run off1628 to take flighta1639 refugea1641 to run for it1642 to take leg1740 to give (also take) leg-bail1751 bail1775 sherry1788 to pull foot1792 fugitate1830 to tail off (out)1830 to take to flight1840 to break (strike, etc.) for (the) tall timber1845 guy1879 to give leg (or legs)1883 rabbit1887 to do a guy1889 high-tail1908 to have it on one's toes1958 1883 Daily News 15 May 7/2 The best way is to make a snatch and give legs for it, it's better than loitering. 1896 H. N. Shore Old Foye Days 24 He had on a coat with..large pockets in the tails, and when the scuffle began he clapped the tub [of liquor] into it, and gave leg home as fast as he could pull foot. g. Phrases with have (or an equivalent predicative prepositional phrase). (a) not to have a leg to stand on and variants: to be without support; spec. (a) to have no grounding in truth or evidence; (b) to hold a weak position in an argument or be without the support of the law in a legal matter. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > contrary evidence > lack evidence [phrase] not to have a leg to stand on1594 1594 T. Nashe Vnfortunate Traveller sig. C3 Faine he would have patcht out a polt-foote tale, but (God he knowes) it had not one true legge to stand on. a1645 W. Laud Hist. Troubles & Tryal (1695) 485 My Lord's fine Simile hath neither Crutch nor Leg to stand on. 1757 Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 343/2 He is still a little remnant of a ministry that seems not to have more than half a leg to stand on. 1798 M. Hays Appeal to Men Great Brit. 117 The truth is that they have not a leg to stand upon, when examined upon the principles of reason. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 8 As if the Yankee man were determined to leave the..brigadier without a leg to stand upon, as a lawyer would say. 1889 St. G. Mivart Truth 131 The latter hypothesis..has not a leg to stand on. 1944 E. S. Gardner Case of Black-eyed Blonde (1948) xvi. 158 Mildred had gone to a lawyer, and the lawyer had advised her that she didn't have a legal leg to stand on. 1973 J. Wainwright Pride of Pigs 179 You haven't a leg to stand on... You don't even out-rank me. 2003 H. Holt Death in Pract. (2004) xvii. 226 You can whistle for the money, Gillespie, you haven't got a leg to stand on. †(b) Scottish. to have one's leg over the harrows: to be out of control. Also to get one's leg over the harrows. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1816 W. Scott Old Mortality viii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 191 ‘She has her leg ower the harrows now,’ said Cuddie, ‘stop her wha can.’ 1829 W. Scott Jrnl. 28 Feb. (1946) 28 I hope the Duke of Wellington will keep the horned beast [sc. popery] well in hand, and not let her get her leg over the harrows. (c) to have the legs of (also on): to be able to go faster than; to outstrip or beat in a race. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (transitive)] > gain (ground) upon > catch up or overtake > outstrip > by running of-runOE overruna1425 outrunc1460 fore-run1513 to have (also get) the heels of1649 to have the legs of (also on)1861 to give a stone and a beating to1885 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. III. viii. 140 The beggar had the legs of me. 1886 A. C. Hobart Sketches Life xiii. 135 I knew we had the legs of her [sc. a gunboat]. 1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey (1927) ii. xi. 147 He was not gaining, Wilfrid had the legs on him—to overtake him, he must run! 1994 Sporting Life 28 Oct. 15/6 His previous win, at Goodwood, was over this slightly longer trip and he should have the legs of his eight rivals here. 2004 J. Leigh & D. Woodhouse Football Lexicon (2006) 114 If a winger has the legs on his full back, he is just plain quicker. †(d) to have a leg: (of a man) to be good-looking or physically attractive. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > have pleasing appearance [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of persons to have a leg1879 1879 G. Meredith Egoist I. ii. 16 And, says Mrs Mountstuart, while grand phrases were mouthing round about him ‘You see he had a leg’. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 28 Mar. 2/2 He first wore breeches at the Coronation of Queen Victoria, and there was a curious anticipation of a phrase immortal in literature in his statement that his first Court suit revealed to him ‘that he had a leg’. h. to keep one's legs: to remain standing upright; to keep oneself from falling or collapsing. Cf. to keep one's feet at foot n. and int. Phrases 2c(a). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > posture > action of standing up or rising > rise or be standing [verb (intransitive)] > be standing > without falling to keep one's feet1579 to keep one's legs1639 1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iv. xxiv. 210 Here the steady ship had the better of it; and those souldiers who best kept their legges could best use their arms. 1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 5 They [sc. those who serve on a ship of war]..walk firm, where all other Creatures tumble; and seldom can keep their Legs long, when they get upon Terra Firma. ?1770 Adventures of Actor iii. 44 A thick mist overspread her eyes, and she could not keep her legs. She fell, and bit the earth. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xii. 233 The fighting men..were so much exhausted that they could scarcely keep their legs. 1858 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 345 Carried most of the way, not able to keep his legs. 1991 J. E. Woods tr. C. Ransmayr Terrors of Ice & Darkness vii. 61 The Tyrolean hunters take turns being seasick and can barely keep their legs. i. to shake a loose (also free) leg: to do something indulgent or hedonistic; to act according to one's desires without being restrained by law, religious beliefs, etc. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > be licentious [verb (intransitive)] > act or behave ragea1400 to play the wanton1529 to play the wanton's part1529 ramp1530 wanton1589 wantonize1592 colta1599 wantonize1611 lasciviate1628 to shake a loose (also free) leg1743 Corinthianize1810 playboy1950 1743 J. Worsdale in T. Cibber Cibber & Sheridan 77 Joy, Joy to all Mortals..Who from Bailiffs, and Spungers, and Straw-beds are freed, And may shake a loose Leg now on each side the Tweed. 1836 W. H. Ainsworth Rookwood (rev. ed.) iii. xxiv. 309 While luck lasts, the highwayman shakes a loose leg! 1856 H. Mayhew Great World London 87 Those who love to ‘shake a free leg’, and lead a roving life, as they term it. 1908 ‘J. Oxenham’ Pearl of Pearl Island vi. 264 Meg's given me a holiday, and I'm going to shake a free leg in Guernsey. 1996 Times (Nexis) 21 Aug. Darling, in proper Catholicism you can shake such a loose leg. I was brought up among Liverpool Catholics. Out of Mass, into the pub. j. to show a leg. (a) Originally Navy. To get out of bed, esp. in order to perform a task or in readiness for the day ahead. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > going swiftly on foot > go swiftly on foot [verb (intransitive)] to stir one's stumpsa1500 to leg it?1587 skelp1721 split1790 to show a leg1818 to go the pace1829 step1856 the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > bed related to sleep or rest > go to bed or retire to rest [verb (intransitive)] > get up or rise arisec950 riseOE risec1175 uprisea1400 to dress upc1400 rouse1577 to get up1583 up1635 unroost1751 to turn out1801 to show a leg1818 to roll out1884 to hit the deck1918 1818 ‘A. Burton’ Adventures Johnny Newcome 47 ‘Hoy! shew a leg, and save a clue!—’ Rouse! rouse!—heave out! 1831 B. Hall Fragm. Voy. & Trav. I. 247 I say, Master Doughy, do you mean to relieve the deck tonight? Here it's almost two bells, and you have hardly shewn a leg yet. 1854 ‘C. Bede’ Further Adventures Mr. Verdant Green (ed. 2) vii. 61 He used to sing out, ‘You must show a leg, sir!’ and..kept on hammering at the door till I did. 1890 A. Conan Doyle Sign of Four viii. 145 He tapped at the winder—about three it would be. ‘Show a leg, matey,’ says he: ‘time to turn out guard.’ My old man woke up Jim..and away they went. 1916 ‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin ii. 19 They were all roused out of their warm hammocks by the strident shouting of the boatswain's mates... ‘All hands! turn out, turn out, turn out! show a leg, show a leg, show a leg!’ 1969 ‘P. Alding’ Murder among Thieves xii. 12 ‘Come on, me sleeping beauty, rise and shine, show a leg,’ said P. C. Mottram, with indecent cheerfulness. 2004 Express (Nexis) 27 Mar. 63 Good morning campers, show a leg you lads and lasses, rub the sleep out of your eyes and prepare for another grand day of fun. (b) To run off, escape; to move at speed. Now rare. ΚΠ 1821 P. Egan Real Life in London I. 137 The Jontleman..grabb'd his pocket-handkerchief, and was after shewing a leg, when a little boy that kept his oglers upon 'em,..let the cat out of the bag by bawling—Stop thief! [Shewing a leg—or, as it is sometimes called, giving leg bail—making the best use of legs to escape detection]. 1837 R. M. Bird Nick of Woods I. 177 I'll fight for you, or run for you, take scalp or cut stick, shake fist or show leg, anything in reason or out of reason. 1840 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 3rd Ser. 60 So we showed a leg right off, trotted down-stairs, and into the coach in no time. 1887 H. Caine Deemster I. 221 He'd better show a leg if he don't want the rat's tail. 1944 Truth (Brisbane) 27 Aug. 5/1 (caption) He's off! ‘Bubbles’ Pegg (Souths) shows a leg and gets well away from Jack Kelleway's tackle. k. to stretch one's legs. Formerly also to stretch out one's legs. (a) To walk, to exercise the legs by walking; esp. to take the opportunity to go for a walk, typically outside, during a break between periods of sitting still or of being in a confined space. ΘΚΠ society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > for exercise or recreation walka1375 to take a walk1581 to take one's walk(s)1581 to stretch one's legs1584 purmeinea1614 fetch, rarely make a walk1694 to streek one's shanks, wame1788 constitutionalize1852 1584 W. Phiston Welspring Wittie Conceites 77 Spensippus, beyng willed..to stretch out his legges with going, answered: that hee liued not by legges, but by vnderstanding. 1607 A. Gorges in S. Purchas Pilgrims (1625) IV. x. xiv. 1951 [We] went ashoare, to stretch our legs in the Isle of Flores. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. v. 205 I would often fetch a walke, to stretch my legs, that were stifled with a stumbling beast. 1779 G. Keate Sketches from Nature (ed. 2) II. 208 I was glad after so long a confinement, to stretch my legs, and determined to walk home. 1798 Bell's Weekly Messenger 8 Apr. 110/2 It would be rather cruel to debar Jackey Bull the privilege of stretching his legs a bit on the Lord's-day. 1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby v. 40 Mr. Squeers got down at almost every stage—to stretch his legs as he said. 1872 Earl of Pembroke & G. H. Kingsley South Sea Bubbles i. 36 About every hour we stopped to change horses, when we took the opportunity to stretch our legs. 1899 J. Rodway In Guiana Wilds 30 Allan..began to feel cramped from remaining so long in one position; he wanted to stretch his legs. 1908 S. Murray Seven Legs Across Seas vi. iv. 308 We have reached Ghoom, the highest point on the line, where more passengers leave and others get out of the coaches to stretch their legs. 1968 D. Moraes My Son's Father ii. 21 Only when I climbed out to stretch my legs with my father..did I discover that the entire external length of the train. 2014 Fraser Coast (Queensland) Chron. (Nexis) 7 June 39 We stretched our legs along the long seafront of Herne Bay. †(b) To increase the speed of one's walking; to walk quickly, to run. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (intransitive)] > increase speed > in walking or running to set foot forward1548 to stretch one's legs1653 1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler i. 1 I have stretch'd my legs up Tottenham Hil to overtake you. View more context for this quotation 1838 F. Maceroni Memoirs I. 469 Dolgorouky..being a huge, gigantic fellow, stretched out his legs so as to put little Durant literally upon the trot. l. to take (also †betake) (†oneself) to one's legs: to run away, flee; (more generally) to run. Formerly also †to take leg. Cf. to take to one's heels at heel n.¹ and int. Phrases 2d(b). ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > run away or flee fleec825 afleeeOE atrina1000 atfleec1000 to run awayOE to turn to or into flighta1225 to turn the ridgec1225 atrenc1275 atshakec1275 to give backa1300 flemec1300 startc1330 to take (on oneself) the flighta1500 to take the back upon oneselfa1500 fly1523 to take (also betake) (oneself) to one's legs1530 to flee one's way1535 to take to one's heels1548 flought?1567 fuge1573 to turn taila1586 to run off1628 to take flighta1639 refugea1641 to run for it1642 to take leg1740 to give (also take) leg-bail1751 bail1775 sherry1788 to pull foot1792 fugitate1830 to tail off (out)1830 to take to flight1840 to break (strike, etc.) for (the) tall timber1845 guy1879 to give leg (or legs)1883 rabbit1887 to do a guy1889 high-tail1908 to have it on one's toes1958 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 749/1 I take me to my legges, I flye a waye, je me mets en fuyte. 1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. iv. 34 Come knock and enter, and no sooner in, But euery man betake him to his legs. View more context for this quotation 1635 L. Foxe North-west Fox 25 He presently tooke to his legges and runne away. 1740 L. Whyte Poems 94 Ralph thus involv'd in Debt took Leg. 1854 H. A. Stern Dawnings Light in East i. 4 The driver, dreading the whip which I held in my hand, betook himself to his legs, and was off in an instant. 1861 H. A. Jacobs Incidents Life Slave Girl iv. 17 [He] was a perfect coward when a tussle ensued between him and white boys of his own size. On such occasions he always took to his legs. 1887 F. E. Brooks in W. T. Ross Voice Culture & Elocution (rev. ed.) 248 On either side the fat hens take leg, While others announce a new-laid egg. 1936 Manch. Guardian 4 May 13/6 The younger enthusiasts took to their legs and ran with the procession along Portland Street. 2000 J. Tulloch Season Ticket iii. 70 They ran through the pouring rain, two of them falling, but immediately picking themselves up again and taking to their legs. m. to break the leg: see break v. 7a. to feel one's legs: see feel v. Phrases 3. to give a person a dead leg: see dead leg n. 3. to hang a leg: see hang v. 4c. to pull a person's leg: see pull v. Phrases 7a. to put one's best leg first and variants: see best adj., n.¹, and adv. Phrases 1c(b)(ii). to put one's best leg forward and variants: see best adj., n.¹, and adv. Phrases 1c(b)(i). to recover one's legs: see recover v.¹ 14c. to shake a leg: see shake v. 6f. to talk the hind leg off a donkey and variants: see talk v. 10. P4. Miscellaneous phrases. a. to be tied by the leg: to be rendered incapable of action or be prevented from doing something by circumstance. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > restriction of free action > be constrained in free action [verb (intransitive)] to be tied by the leg1692 lock-step1967 society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restriction or limitation > be restricted or limited [verb (intransitive)] > be restricted in free action to be tied by the leg1692 1692 Life William Fuller 23 Sir, says our Baronet, I am so tied by the Leg, that I despair of ever getting free from the daily Importunities of my good Friends here. 1781 J. Woodforde Diary 22 Aug. (1924) I. 319 I found..him rather low still, and fretting himself about being so tyed by the leg, in dancing backward and forward to Townshends with his great Company. 1832 F. Trollope Domest. Manners Amer. (ed. 2) I. xviii. 285 We should be obliged to pass the whole of Monday there, as the coach..would not arrive..till Tuesday morning. Thus..we were to be tied by the leg for four-and-twenty hours. 1931 J. Buchan Blanket of Dark (1933) xi. 241 While he was tied by the leg in Little Greece, what had become of the girl? 1999 P. O'Brian Blue at Mizzen (2000) x. 261 I am tied by the leg, you know. I am engaged, committed, to the Chilean government. †b. to fight at the leg: to do something underhand or unsporting in order to gain an advantage. Cf. low blow n. at low adj. and n.² Compounds 3. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue at Leg To fight at the leg, to take unfair advantages, it being held unfair by back sword players to strike at the leg. 1845 ‘H. Hieover’ Stable Talk & Table Talk I. 17 [Blacklegging] has disgusted and driven so many men of family, rank, and wealth from the turf, from finding they must either be pigeoned, or, like the rest, ‘fight at the leg’ themselves. c. Cricket. (a) leg before wicket: a mode of dismissal in which the batter is judged to have obstructed, with the leg (or another part of the body) rather than the bat, a ball which would otherwise have hit the wicket. Used chiefly as an adverbial or adjectival phrase describing a batter's dismissal in this way. Abbreviated l.b.w.This mode of dismissal was introduced in 1774, probably to prevent batters from intentionally blocking a ball which might otherwise have hit the wicket, though by 1795 it had been extended to encompass accidental obstruction. Many slight modifications have been made to the Law since then. Under the current Law, the batter's hands and gloves are considered part of the bat when holding it. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > dismissal of batsman > [adjective] > manner of dismissal b.1769 leg before wicket1795 lbw1843 caught and bowled1875 spreadeagled1920 1774 Laws of Cricket (Ridley) 12 Or if the striker puts his Leg before the Wicket with a Design to stop the Ball, and actually prevents the Ball from hitting his Wicket by it [he is out].] 1795 S. Britcher Compl. List Grand Matches Cricket 28 (scorecard) Beldam..35 Leg before Wicket. 1850 ‘Bat’ Cricketer's Man. (rev. ed.) 47 The hitter is given out as..‘leg before wicket’. 1946 Times of India 3 June 10/4 Hill snicked Mankad through the slips to the boundary and in the next over survived a leg-before-wicket appeal from Shinde. 1985 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 26 Jan. 10/3 Lewis..swatted at a shortish delivery from Kelvin Williams, and was plumb leg before wicket at 52 for four. 2003 Newcastle (Austral.) Herald (Nexis) 6 Dec. 128 Justin Langer was dismissed leg before wicket 20 minutes into another rain-shortened day. (b) leg before: = leg before wicket at Phrases 4c(a). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > other batting actions backing-up1816 slip1833 wrist-play1851 leg before1867 follow-through1891 gardening1897 wrist-work1898 whip1903 back-lift1912 1867 Australasian 9 Mar. 300/4 The apparent sincerity of a..wicket-keeper, when appealing for a ‘leg before’, or a ‘bum’. 1882 Daily Tel. 20 May Blackham was out leg before to Lillywhite. 1927 Scotsman 1 Dec. 15/5 When play was restarted Staples obtained a leg-before decision against Siedle at 65. 1969 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (ed. 106) 679 The use of pads instead of the bat was prevalent with six batsmen trapped leg before in the first innings. 2001 Times 14 Sept. 19/5 Hemp fell leg-before, pushing half-forward to Dean, before rain set in after lunch. d. a leg in the full: see full adj., n.², and adv. Phrases 2e(a)(iii). an arm and a leg: see arm n.¹ Phrases 3f. the boot is on the other leg, the boot is on the wrong leg, to make one boot serve for either leg: see boot n.³ 1b. to have a bone in one's leg: see bone n.¹ Phrases 1f(b). Compounds C1. General attributive. leg ache n. ΚΠ 1597 W. Langham Garden of Health 614 (table) Legge ache. 1859 S. S. Madders Mabel Owen I. i. 17 Oh, those seasons of head ache and leg-ache. 1933 Scotsman 22 Aug. 6/5 If this new system does all that is claimed for it, driving should be even more greatly simplified and leg-ache..diminished. 2014 Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Nexis) 15 Nov. 18 All staff..are also now fully trained in the technique of pregnancy massage which is great for..easing lower back pain and leg ache. leg amputation n. ΚΠ 1782 J. Aitken Elements Theory & Pract. Physic & Surg. II. 502 Fore-arm amputation has the same speciality with leg-amputation. 1882 Jrnl. Statist. Soc. 45 479 97 cases of thigh and leg amputation, of which 26 died. 1960 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 22 Oct. 1215/1 A study of 35 leg-amputation specimens by these authors revealed no evidence in any instance of the acute arterial lesions described by Buerger. 2014 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 26 July 23 Clinic staff see about 350 patients a month, for issues ranging from foot ulcers to infections that require leg amputations. leg amputee n. ΚΠ 1922 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 21 Jan. 107/2 Arm and leg amputees can manage motor cars, even without any special fittings. 1983 Times 2 Dec. 15/7 The first thing a physiotherapist teaches a leg amputee is how to get up. 2014 N.Y. Post (Nexis) 13 Sept. 10 The first double leg amputee to compete in the Olympics. leg cramp n. ΚΠ 1869 Liverpool Mercury 4 Sept. A swimmer seized with leg-cramp would instinctively throw his head as far back as it would go. 1955 Washington Post 3 July e2/3 (headline) New drug relives leg cramp sufferers. 2010 Daily Mirror (Nexis) 27 Oct. (Features section) 38 Nocturnal leg cramps affect 13 million of us a year and are one of the five main factors that cause us to wake in the night. leg garment n. ΚΠ 1839 H. R. Schoolcraft Algic Researches II. 104 I believe..that this is the moon in which fire attracts, and I fear your foot and leg garments have been drawn in. 1962 Times of India 3 Aug. 6/4 A girl's leg-garments are known by their varying lengths. 2008 B. Evaristo Blonde Roots (2009) 141 Upon their bottom halves were leg garments that came down to the knee, in some cases tied with ribbons! leg hair n. ΚΠ 1872 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 199/2 The loss of all my leg-hair. 1975 Ebony July 6/2 (advt.) We took our time in developing the most effective, convenient and economical leg hair remover we could create. 2004 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) (Nexis) 17 Dec. 3 Five brave men from Barclays Capital in Hong Kong offered to have their leg hair removed for charity - right in the middle of the office and in front of their colleagues. leg injury n. ΚΠ 1842 Lancet 2 Index 898/2 Clarke's apparatus for leg injuries. 1943 Billboard 21 Aug. 12/3 He fell asleep as he was driving home, his car striking a safety zone post. He was reported as having a fractured nose, possible skull fracture and leg injuries. 2002 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 5 Nov. c16 Former Olympic ski champion Hermann Maier might miss the entire ski season while recovering from a leg injury but has no plans to retire. leg length n. ΚΠ 1881 Clothier & Furnisher (N.Y.) Aug. 13/1 Small pantaloons must be out about one-half an inch shorter than the full leg length. 1924 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 25 Oct. 778/1 Adjustable front seats to accommodate the particular requirements as to leg length, and so forth, of the individual occupants. 2004 Independent (Nexis) 5 May (Features section) 11 Steudel and Tilken measured the oxygen consumption of 21 volunteers (of varying leg lengths) while they pounded away on a treadmill. leg meat n. ΚΠ 1889 Agric. Sci. 3 158 Salers' beef is usually the choicest leg meat; the legs are long and very strong of bone. 1954 Life 25 Jan. 39 (advt.) Then all the breast and leg meat carefully taken from the bones and diced. 2006 Time Out N.Y. 3 Aug. 32/4 Neither a delicious bed of chickpeas..nor the slow cooking could cover up the leg meat's inherent blandness and dryness. leg muscle n. ΚΠ 1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια x. xxxix. 815 The fift and last Extender is called Tibiaeus posticus, the hinder Leg-muscle. 1854 J. Wood in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. 115/1 Upon it are implanted the large posterior leg muscles, and in the sedentary position the trunk is supported by it. 1980 R. Mayer 1937 Newark Bears xi. 145 Much of his difficulties that year could be attributed to injuries—a spike wound to his left hand during spring training and a torn leg muscle later in the season. 2008 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 20 Aug. c19/1 The way his leg muscle inserts into the bone..could give Bolt unexpected explosive strength. leg pain n. ΚΠ 1675 G. Harvey Dis. of London iii. 21 Scorbutick Leg-pains, either haunt the Tendons about the Knee and Ancle, or the Membranes of the Muscles. 1883 Clinique 4 442 Flannel bandages applied to the legs relieved her of the leg-pain. 1964 Pop. Mech. Sept. 204/2 Another of Doctor Naide's leg-pain patients was a 68-year old man whose favorite TV position was with his leg thrown over the arm of the sofa. 2006 RSDSA Rev. Summer 4/3 Osteoarthritis patients with CRPS/RSD-like symptoms (chronic severe leg pain, swelling, disuse), had no nerve injuries. leg problem n. ΚΠ 1947 Times Pict. (Dublin) 22 Feb. 6/4 There comes a day when the teen-age girl..realises that legs red with cold or black with bruises are not attractive—and cannot be tucked out of sight. That is when you have to face various leg problems. 1965 Chicago Daily Defender 9 Aug. 25/3 This year's Stars and Stripes victor, five-year-old Marlin Bay..is also a comebacker, idled for 51 weeks with leg problems. 2014 Daily Mirror (Nexis) 27 Nov. 30 His leg problem was believed to have been a reoccurrence of an old break he suffered during riots inside Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight in 1969. leg ulcer n. ΚΠ 1838 Med. Examiner 28 Feb. 87 The subject was 66 years of age, and had suffered from leg ulcers for five years. 1952 Times Lit. Suppl. 29 Feb. 159/3 Harrowing descriptions of such things as leg ulcers which have to be scooped out with a spoon. 2001 Pulse (Nexis) 1 Dec. 56 There is insufficient evidence to suggest that anabolic steroids such as stanozolol decrease recurrence rates in leg ulcers. leg vein n. ΚΠ 1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια ii. viii. 75/3 The inner leg-veine call Tibica, which is diuersly carried under the skin. 1848 F. Clater Every Man his Own Cattle Doctor (ed. 10) 353 The leg vein, however, is not easily seen in a lean pig. 1952 Sci. News Let. 12 Apr. 231/2 (heading) Tall men more likely to get leg vein clot. 2002 Times 11 Feb. ii. 22/1 Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a main leg vein. leg wound n. ΚΠ 1856 Lancaster Gaz. 1 Nov. 8/1 The leg wound was the most serious, which was about an inch in length. 1914 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 24 Oct. 729/2 Foot amputated, and leg wound cleaned up thoroughly. 2006 Hull Daily Mail (Nexis) 23 Oct. 10 The pain and misery that put her life on hold after a leg wound became infected have gone. C2. a. leg art n. slang (originally U.S.) the display of attractive (young) women in revealing costumes, esp. in photographs. ΚΠ 1929 Variety 16 Jan. 21/4 Jack Campbell, managing editor of the Los Angeles Evening Herald, has issued a stop order on publication of semi-nude art that heretofore characterized this sheet as a ‘leg art’ medium. 1939 Collier's 23 Sept. 64/3 Because Betty had appeared in a film a publicity man named Pete told her to come to Bowers' still studio for ‘leg art.’ 1958 Spectator 10 Oct. 481/1 The Cameo Royal, the leg-art cinema by London's Leicester Square. 1999 T. P. Doherty Pre-code Hollywood v. 112 Hays issued the strict guidelines on the ‘leg art’ and cleavage in studio publicity stills. leg bath n. [originally after post-classical Latin pediluvium pediluvium n.] a bath in which one or both of the legs can be washed or soaked, esp. for medicinal purposes; a washing or bathing of the legs; cf. pediluvium n. ΚΠ 1765 Monthly Rev. Aug. 124 A pediluvium or leg-bath of warm water..instantaneously removed the cough. 1853 Househ. Words 6 311/1 The horses broke out into a profuse sweat afterwards; I found this the case in a less degree with the leg bath, but I did not find that the horses were the worse for it. 1857 Water-cure Jrnl. 23 115/1 We placed the patient in a leg bath, water covering his knees at 70º. 1922 Domest. Engin. 28 Jan. 163/2 There are special foot, arm and leg baths, which can be adjusted so that a continuously rotating body of water at any required temperature may be kept in contact. 2009 Sunday Times (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 9 Aug. She was an expert at giving newborn babies a leg bath. † leg bird n. English regional (Yorkshire) Obsolete rare the sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. ΚΠ 1848 Zoologist 6 2290 Provincial names of birds in Yorkshire... The sedge warbler, a ‘leg bird’. leg bone n. any of the long bones of the leg; spec. (in anatomy) the tibia, the shin bone; (in butchery also) the femur, the thigh bone. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > structural parts > bone or bones > bones of arm or leg > bones of leg > [noun] > bones of lower leg > tibia shankOE shinbonec1000 leg bone1615 tibia1726 1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 1003 The whirle and the Leg-bone are ioyned by adarticulation. 1788 J. Trusler Honours of Table 70 The thigh-bone [of a goose]..may be easily divided in the joint from the leg-bone, or drum-stick, as it is called. 1839 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Agric. (ed. 4) 965 The tibia or leg bone is usually, in horsemen's language, called the thigh. 1919 Bull. U.S. Bureau Labor Statist. No. 252. 1096 The hind quarter is separated into two cuts, round and loin, by cutting through the muscle and meat in front of the hind leg from the stifle joint along the leg bone to the hip or socket joint. 2009 H. Hasan Bone Cancer ii. 14 In some cases, the first sign of osteosarcoma is a broken arm or leg bone. leg boot n. (a) a boot which reaches the knee; (b) a protective boot for a horse which covers the leg between the knee and hoof; cf. boot n.³ 5. ΚΠ 1780 Adam's Weekly Courant 11 Apr. 1/2 (advt.) Men's best London leg boots. 1855 Catal. Wks. Exhib. Brit. Sect., Paris Universal Exhib. 238/2 Web Boots of all widths, for Fetlocks, Leg Boots, and Speedy-Cut Boots. 1920 Scotsman 14 Dec. 8/4 His impersonation of the impecunious Duke, in three-cornered hat, leg-boots and spurs..is one that appeals with the directness and certainty of genuine art. 2002 Equus Mar. 21/1 Leg boots can help protect against inadvertent knocks and blows. leg brace n. a rigid structure attached to a leg (of a device or of a person) to strengthen or provide support. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > other tools and equipment pollhache1324 poleaxe1356 muckrake1366 pestlea1382 botea1450 staff1459 press-board1558 reel1593 water crane1658 lathekin1659 tower1662 dressing hook1683 liner1683 hovel1686 flax-brake1688 nipper1688 horse1728 tap1797 feather-stick1824 bow1839 safety belt1840 economizer1841 throttle damper1849 cleat1854 leg brace1857 bark-peeler1862 pugging screw1862 nail driver1863 spool1864 turntable1865 ovate1872 tension bar1879 icebreaker1881 spreader1881 toucher1881 window pole1888 mushroom head1890 rat1894 slackline1896 auger1897 latch hook1900 thimble1901 horse1904 pipe jack1909 mulcher1910 hand plate1911 splashguard1917 cheese-cutter1927 airbrasive1945 impactor1945 fogger1946 the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > surgical supports > [noun] > calliper for leg iron1697 leg splint1824 leg brace1857 calliper1876 1857 U.S. Patent 18,377 1/1 By this last movement, the back and leg brace F is brought under the seat [of the folding chair] in the position shown. 1862 Med. & Surg. Reporter 1 Mar. 506/1 The entire foot-piece is joined by the iron stirrup to the leg-brace, as in the apparatus for equinus. 1991 Photo Answers May 84 (advt.) Extra rigid with..spirit level, quick release and strong polycarbonate leg brace. 2001 Big Issue 20 Aug. 28/1 An accident left Morgan using leg-braces. leg business n. slang (originally U.S.) (a) theatrical performances featuring dancing girls in revealing costumes; dancing of this kind; cf. leg show n.; (b) ballet dancing, esp. as a profession; cf. leg piece n. (b). ΚΠ 1867 Galaxy Aug. 444 Leo hates the leg business as much as anybody, but, bless you, nothing else pays now-a-days, so what can she do? 1867 Galaxy Aug. 444 Either ballet, or heroic verse; the ‘leg business’ or the brain business. 1871 A. Edwardes Ought we to visit Her? III. i. 11 She was..in the ‘Leg Business’ [sc. she worked as a ballet-dancer], your Grace. 1934 Times of India 1 Sept. 9/7 [The title] ‘Hips, Hips, Hooray!’..may lead you to expect another of those super musical leg displays in which Hollywood loves to indulge. Actually the leg business doesn't loom large at all. 1994 F. E. Dudden Women in Amer. Theatre vii. 173 Logan reopened her critique of the leg business in May 1869, as Thompson's British Blondes were concluding their highly successful New York season. leg bye n. Cricket a run scored from a delivery that has deflected off a part of the batter’s body (apart from a hand holding the bat) without touching the bat, credited to the batting side as an extra (extra n. 1); cf. bye n.¹ 1a.In the Laws of Cricket, the batter’s hands are considered part of the bat when holding it. ΚΠ 1844 Hampshire Tel. & Sussex Chron. 22 July They only scored four wide balls and one bye, which was a leg bye. 1910 Manch. Guardian 19 Aug. 6/1 The score of 190 includes only one ‘extra’, and that a leg bye. 2003 Eastern Eye 14 Feb. 74/1 With Bangladesh roared on by some 3,000 of their own nationals who work in Malaysia, they gained victory with a leg bye off the final ball of the match. leg chair n. rare a chair which allows the person seated to stretch out their legs for comfort. ΚΠ 1909 Westm. Gaz. 30 Dec. 2/1 I stretched my wearied limbs in the luxurious depth of a leg-chair. 1945 National Directory of Commodity Specif. (U.S. Department of Commerce) 245/1 Covers three types: (A) Rotary, army chair, (C) stenographic chair, and (D) leg chair, without arms. leg curl n. an exercise in which the heel (with or without added weights) is drawn up to the buttocks, typically performed using both legs whilst lying face downwards on an exercise bench fitted with a bar that the heels hook under, lift, and slowly lower. ΚΠ 1958 Reno (Nevada) Evening Gaz. 16 Apr. 7/5 (advt.) The finest and newest, most modern equipment made... Leg Curl Machine, Leg Stride Machine, Leg Extension Machine [etc.]. 1959 Athletic Jrnl. Sept. 77/1 Leg curls. Use iron boots (5 pound weights on each boot). This exercise develops the biceps femoris and the hamstring muscles. 1986 S. Grafton C is for Corpse i. 3 He was doing leg curls, facedown on the bench next to mine. 2003 Muscle & Fitness Jan. 54/1 I'd suggest doing..more isolation exercises in the second session—leg extensions, leg curls, inner/outer thighs. leg dollar n. Scottish (now historical) a Dutch silver ducat; also called legged dollar (see legged adj. Compounds).The name derives from the depiction on one side of the coin of a soldier, holding a shield which obscures his left leg, meaning that the picture appears to be of a one-legged man. The coin appears to have been current in Scotland from the mid 17th cent. and fallen out of use shortly after the Act of Union (1707); cf. rix-dollar n. ΚΠ 1667 in R. W. Cochran-Patrick Rec. Coinage Scotl. (1876) II. 155 To..consider the value of those dollors commonly called leg dollors and to consider what prejudice the countrey sustaines by the importation thairof. 1702 T. Morer Short Acct. Scotl. 22 But now to save trouble, they divide 'em into two sorts, the Rix-Dollar at 4 s. 10d. and the Leg-Dollar at 4s. 8d. 1729 T. Prior Observ. Coin 34 The Patagon Leg-dollar, or Rix-dollar of Holland, or Piece of 50 Stivers. 1859 Coll. Maine Hist. Soc. 6 134 It was sometimes called the ‘leg dollar’, from the fact, as is supposed, of the military figure upon it being on foot, and showing only one leg. 1994 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 21 Apr. 2 The leg dollar, the Scots 4-merk piece, the French silver crown and the cross dollar were each worth £2.90. 2011 M. Shutty One Coin is Never Enough xv. 177 (caption) A Dutch Ducaton (or ‘leg dollar’) from unknown sea salvage. leg drive n. Sport (originally Rowing) use of the legs to drive oneself forwards or push; (also) forward momentum or power imparted by the use of the legs in this way. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > propelling boat by oars, paddle, or pole > [noun] > rowing > drive imparted by rower's legs leg drive1885 1885 Cambr. Rev. 3 June 357/2 Emmanuel seem to have settled down at last and are improving, but want more leg drive. 1917 N.Y. Times 3 June (Sports section) 3/2 An expert American waterman defends the leg drive as an important feature of the crawl swimming stroke. 1991 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 9 June 10 f Specifically, how does leg drive contribute to a well-rounded golf swing, and what can it do for your distance? 2014 Irish Daily Mail (Nexis) 11 Jan. 73 Dynamic leg drive in the tackle and when clearing out the breakdown will have Leinster back looking the class side they can be. leg extension n. (a) a section that attaches to or fits inside a leg of an object allowing it to extend to a desired length; (b) an act or the action of straightening (and typically raising) one's leg or legs; (now esp.) an exercise performed seated on an exercise machine with a weighted bar that the shins hook under, lift, and slowly lower. ΚΠ 1865 Amer. Artisan 9 Aug. 220/1 Surgeon's Operating-table... Provided with a hinged portion..and hinged leg-extensions. 1866 G. Techow Man. Gymnastic Exercises iii. ii. 133 Lying on a Table. Practise arm and leg extensions in slow time. 1892 C. J. Enebuske Progressive Gymnastic Day's Orders 55/1 Slow leg-extension backward. 1937 Washington Post 29 Aug. 2/5 I did a back-bend leg extension and split while twirling my baton. 1946 Pop. Photogr. June 76/3 A twist of the knurled ring locks the leg extensions in any one of adjustable heights from 33 to 60 inches. 1958 Reno (Nevada) Evening Gaz. 16 Apr. 7/5 (advt.) The finest and newest, most modern equipment made... Leg Curl Machine, Leg Stride Machine, Leg Extension Machine [etc.]. 1986 Washington Post (Nexis) 7 Oct. z15 When selecting a stationary bicycle, look for durability, comfort and ample room for full leg extension. 1997 Product News Network (Nexis) 1 Jan. The scrolled steel seat is precision die formed... Telescopic leg extensions are an important adjustment feature. 2014 W. Peveler Triathlon Training Fund. xi. 163 Before beginning leg extensions ensure that the machine you are working on is set up specifically for you. † leg-foot n. Obsolete the base of a pole or post. ΚΠ 1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona iii. 29 Old daft limmers sit at a leg-foot [of a gibbet] and spae their fortunes. † leg-ill n. Obsolete any of various conditions causing lameness in sheep. ΚΠ 1807 J. Hogg Shepherd's Guide 163 The Leg-ill being an accommodating name, it is often blamed by shepherds for every sheep that is rendered lame, whether by accident or disease. 1918 T. L. Stedman Pract. Med. Dict. (U.S. ed. 5) 535/2 Leg-ill, an inflammation of the hoof, affecting especially the interdigital spaces, in the sheep. leg iron n. (usually in plural) (a) a shackle or fetter for the leg; cf. iron n.¹ 2b (b) a metal brace or splint, used esp. to support or straighten the leg; = iron n.¹ 16. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [noun] > bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) > for the feet or legs copsa700 fetterc800 gyvec1275 bolt1483 boysc1485 hose-ring?1515 hopshacklea1568 gin?1587 leg ring1606 hamper1613 shacklock1613 wife1616 pedicle1628 leg iron1779 wife1811 leg lock1815 ankle ring1823 anklet1835 hopple1888 Oregon boot1892 society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [adjective] > bound, fettered, or shackled > by the feet or legs gyved1382 leg iron1779 slanged1819 leg-ironed1848 1779 E. Allen Narr. Captivity 9 The hand-cuff was of a common size, and form, but my leg irons (I should imagine) would weight 30 pounds. 1794 T. Sheldrake Observ. Causes Distortion Legs Children 6 Another method of treating this disease [sc. club foot] has been by fixing leg-irons of various constructions upon the leg. 1857 Med. Times & Gaz. 12 Sept. 263/2 The knee-joint must be kept stiff during the act of progression by a knee-cap connected with the leg-iron. 1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations xvi, in All Year Round 2 Feb. 385/1 A convict's leg-iron which had been filed asunder. 1949 Manch. Guardian 14 Feb. 3/2 On the instructions of his commanding officer, he was handcuffed and put in leg-irons. 1987 P. Wright & P. Greengrass Spycatcher ii. 12 I developed rickets and wore leg irons until practically into my teens. 2005 C. Hardyment Malory (2006) viii. 163 Joan was..hobbled with leg irons in a dark cell. leg-ironed adj. that has been put in leg irons; shackled or fettered by the legs; cf. ironed adj. 3. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [adjective] > bound, fettered, or shackled > by the feet or legs gyved1382 leg iron1779 slanged1819 leg-ironed1848 1848 Liberator 30 June 101/2 I was also committed to prison, and there I remained, hand-cuffed and leg-ironed, until near the middle of August. 1884 E. Yates Recoll. & Experiences I. iii. 115 Convicts..handcuffed and leg-ironed. 1932 Times of India 27 May 10/3 The constables with their prisoner, who was securely handcuffed and leg-ironed, boarded the 36 Up Express on Sunday night. 2010 Observer 3 Jan. 30/5 The confession naming Bennett is one of five they made me write after I was handcuffed, leg-ironed, beaten over the head [etc.]. leg knife n. a knife carried on the leg, usually for concealment. ΚΠ 1834 C. F. Hoffman Let. 12 Mar. in Winter in West (1835) II. 75 After I had stuck my leg-knife into the chine of the other. 1915 J. Conrad Victory (1920) iv. ix. 412 Heyst got up briskly, with a smile of such enigmatic and despairing character that Mr. Secretary Ricardo..made a slight crouching start, as if to dive under the table for his leg-knife. 2003 T. Pierce Trickster's Choice ix. 199 She..moved one of her leg knives up under her waistband at the middle of her back, where she could reach it in a hurry. leg lift n. [originally after German Beinheben (1883 in the source translated in quot. 1887, or earlier)] any of various exercises in which one or both legs are slowly lifted and lowered, now typically one performed keeping both legs straight whilst lying on one's back; also with modifying word specifying the position of the body, as side, standing, etc. ΚΠ 1887 W. Mendelson tr. J. Schreiber Man.Treatm. by Massage 245 (caption) The leg-lift—forward... The leg-lift—backward. 1942 Coe College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Cosmos 2 Dec. 2/2 Hope those leg-lifts, chin-ups and rolls will do something for me besides backaches and dislocated knee Joints. 1975 Skiing Oct. 4/1 (caption) Side leg lifts look easy—until you try them in a circuit. 1980 M. F. Weisenfeld & B. Burr Runners' Repair Man. iv. 46 Standing Leg Lifts. Strengthens quadriceps. 2010 L. Schlossberg Life in Miniature xxxiv. 268 I lie on the..carpet, practicing sit-ups and leg lifts, counting out the seconds slowly. leg lock n. (a) (usually in plural) = leg iron n. (a); (b) Wrestling a hold in which a wrestler immobilizes or traps an opponent's legs; (also more generally) any method of holding or restraining someone in this way. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [noun] > bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) > for the feet or legs copsa700 fetterc800 gyvec1275 bolt1483 boysc1485 hose-ring?1515 hopshacklea1568 gin?1587 leg ring1606 hamper1613 shacklock1613 wife1616 pedicle1628 leg iron1779 wife1811 leg lock1815 ankle ring1823 anklet1835 hopple1888 Oregon boot1892 1815 Rep. Comm. Madhouses Eng. 150 in Parl. Papers 1814–15 (H.C. 296) IV. 801 The chain that fastened the neck of the patient to the iron stanchion, as well as the leg-lock, were still used. 1860 J. C. Byrne Undercurrents Overlooked II. 218 Manacles and chains, whips and leg-locks. 1882 Rocky Mountain News (Denver) 25 Dec. 8/3 Acton working alternatively with the body and arm, or leg lock, and Acton had his man nearly on his back again, but Whistler squirmed out and broke clear. 1936 ‘R. Hyde’ Passport to Hell 65 No leglocks are used. He [sc. the convict] can sit, stand, or lie, as he pleases. 1974 T. Brooke-Taylor Goodies File 37 Grab her in a double leg-lock with a back arm twist. 2014 New Yorker 1 Sept. 46/1 Cassandro spun each student into an upturned paquetito—the strangely simple leg lock he had used to defeat Magno. leg-maker n. †(a) (in quot. a1500, perhaps) a maker of leggings (obsolete); (b) a maker of artificial legs.Quot. a1500 apparently shows a mistaken literal gloss of classical Latin tibiārius maker of reed pipes. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > producer > makers of other articles > [noun] > of other specific finished articles anchorsmith1296 paliser1315 sheather1379 buckler-maker1415 barrow-maker1468 chess-maker1481 belt maker1483 leg-makera1500 reel-makera1500 card maker1511 lattice-maker1550 pale cleaver1578 bead-maker1580 boss-maker1580 balloonier1598 bilbo-smith1632 block-makera1687 pen-makera1703 pipe-maker1766 platemaker1772 stickman1786 safe maker?1789 matchmaker1833 chipmaker1836 labelmaker1844 bandagist1859 hurdler1874 moon cutter1883 tie-maker1901 a1500 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 686/29 (MED) Hic tibiarius, legmaker. 1776 Morning Post 5 Dec. We hear for certainty, that Mr. Patence..is made Leg-maker in ordinary to our English Aristophanes [sc. the dramatist and actor Samuel Foote, who lost one of his legs in 1766 after falling from his horse.]! 1889 Boston Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 16 May 483/1 The efforts of the leg-maker are hampered by bungling surgery. 2009 Dalby (Queensland) Herald (Nexis) 1 May 25 I remember the first day I got home from the leg-makers with my new leg—I had a big smile on my face—like I knew I was ready to rumble. † leg money n. Obsolete a payment required for the removal of leg irons. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [noun] > payment for removal of leg-irons leg money1812 1812 Examiner 7 Sept. 575/1 If not able to pay leg money, or a fee for knocking off the irons [at Newgate]. leg muff n. [ < leg n. + muff n.¹] (a) a downy tuft of feathers on the leg of a bird, as in certain hummingbirds and domestic pigeons; (b) an item of clothing worn by women to keep the leg warm. ΚΠ 1862 J. G. Wood Illustr. Nat. Hist. (new ed.) II. 237 The Peruvian Racket-tail, a bird which may be distinguished by the rusty-red colour of the leg-muffs. 1914 Textile Amer. Feb. 18/3 Leg muffs of silk and fur are being worn in Paris. 1939 C. A. Naether Bk. of Pigeon vii. 137 Fireback pigeons breed fairly true... Their leg-muffs should be long. 1990 S. J. Bodio Aloft ii. 10 Each bird had white wings and leg muffs, and a complicated..marking in white on its face. 2010 D. R. Strahan Throwaways i. 17 They wore fur jackets, leg muffs, hoods; all that kind of stuff. leg pad n. Cricket each of a pair of padded coverings worn by batters and wicketkeepers to protect the ankle, shin and knee; now usually shortened to pad (see pad n.² 9). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > equipment > [noun] > protective equipment pad1843 leg guard1844 leg pad1844 legging1851 cricket box1859 box1950 1844 Bell's Life in London 6 Oct. Day was one of the first to make his appearance at the wicket, well padded, and wearing a leg pad on his left arm, which had very much the appearance of a shield. 1935 N.Y. Times 10 Feb. s1 The Bambino donned leg pads and smashed the offerings of two ‘fast bowlers’ all over the premises. 2002 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 24 Dec. 11/1 Vincent Lafette, an engineering student from France, was strapping on his leg-pads upside-down... He'd never seen a game of cricket in his life. † leg-payment n. Obsolete flight or absconding as a means of avoiding one's debts; in quot. in to make leg-payments; cf. leg-bail n.¹ ΚΠ 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Payer en gambades, to make leg-paiments, to runne away in debt. leg piece n. (a) each of a pair of greaves (greave n.² 1) (now historical); (b) slang a theatrical performance in which dance is prominent, spec. a ballet; cf. leg business n. (b). ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > armour for limbs > [noun] > leg armour > greave hosesc1275 jamberc1330 jambeauc1380 boot1388 shinbawde?a1400 greavec1400 leg piece1653 jamb1834 society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > variety, etc. > [noun] > leg-show leg show1873 leg piece1918 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 2nd Bk. Wks. xii. 83 He were mounted on a barbed horse furnished with..armes, thighs and leg-pieces [Fr. hoguines]. 1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads xi. 151 His Leg-pieces he down to th' Anckles ti'd With silver Buckles, Leg-pieces of Brass. 1854 G. A. Sala in Househ. Words 15 Apr. 212/2 Say ye English and continental managers how often have you escaped bankruptcy through the legs of your figurantes and the judicious selection of ballets, otherwise ‘leg pieces’. 1918 G. B. Shaw Let. Sept. in W. Loraine Robert Loraine (1938) xiii. 247 So long as you have a mouth left and one lung to keep it going, you will still be better than the next best: my pieces are not leg pieces. 2011 Wisconsin State Jrnl. (Nexis) 27 Nov. g1 I decided I didn't want to fight in such heavy and complicated armor—each of my leg pieces weighed 25 pounds. leg-pull n. [after to pull a person's leg (see pull v. Phrases 7a)] an instance of leg-pulling; an attempt to pull a person's leg; cf. leg-pulling n. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > mischievous or practical joking > [noun] > instance of jest1578 jig1592 wilec1600 waggery1604 pleasance1668 quiz1795 practical joke1804 skite1804 skit1815 galliardise1842 leg-pull1893 rannygazoo1896 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] > a trick, prank, hoax pratOE mowa1393 pageant?c1430 jimp?1572 prank1576 jest1578 jig1592 frump1593 trick1605 bilk1664 fun1699 plisky1706 humbug1750 hum1751 practical joke1751 marlock1763 quiz1795 practical joke1804 skite1804 hoax1808 skit1815 wrinkle1817 rusty1835 funny business1838 string1851 stringer1851 cod1862 mank1865 spoof1889 leg-pull1893 rannygazoo1896 shenanigan1926 gotcha1967 to throw a fastball1968 wind-up1984 1893 Puck (N.Y.) 2 Aug. 375/1 I can't stand any such infernal leg-pull! 1950 T. S. Eliot Cocktail Party iii. 148 You always did enjoy a leg-pull, Julia. 1970 J. Ardagh New France xi. 549 His whole operation might be partly a leg-pull at the expense of serious literature. 2013 C. Collie Reporter & Warlords i. 4 I think I'm the victim of a leg-pull. leg-puller n. [after to pull a person's leg (see pull v. Phrases 7a)] a person who engages in leg-pulling; a person who pulls another's leg; cf. leg-pulling n. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > [noun] > one who banters railleur1655 raillier1663 banterer1678 rallier1678 badineur1734 quiz1797 quizzer1797 queerera1800 smoker1812 persifleur1829 chaffer1851 tease1853 leg-puller1887 josher1899 ragger1903 kibitzer1925 the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > mischievous or practical joking > [noun] > one who wag1584 shaver1592 wagship1607 lick1725 nickum1804 practical joker1830 leg-puller1887 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] > practitioner japer1362 practiser1545 practitioner1560 amuser1583 fopper1659 hummer1763 prankster1811 hoaxer1814 puck1823 practical joker1830 pranking1852 card1853 leg-puller1887 kidder1888 pranker1890 codologist1897 spoofer1914 wind-up artist1984 1887 Atchison (Kansas) Daily Globe 1 July No one would imagine, to look at the pale side-whiskered faces of the Lutheran college committee, that the members were such competent leg pullers. 1923 Motor Cycling 7 Nov. 2/1 You are a confirmed leg-puller. Just fancy kidding me about the speed of the bus I bought from you. 2010 C. McCullough Naked Cruelty 100 There's an element of leg puller in Miss MacIntosh, but I confess I like her the better for it. leg-pulling n. [after to pull a person's leg (see pull v. Phrases 7a)] the practice of attempting to deceive or mislead others in a playful way or as a joke; an instance of this. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > mischievous or practical joking > [noun] waggery1594 knavery1600 joking1670 leg-pulling1879 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] legerdemain1532 hocus-pocus1647 sham1683 funning1728 humbugging1752 humming1807 hoaxing1808 larking1813 cutting-up1843 cut-up1843 shenanigan1855 codology1860 greening1863 cod1866 leg-pulling1879 spoof1889 codding1892 spoofery1895 four-flushing1901 kidding1901 shenaniganning1924 kidology1964 1879 Lowell (Mass.) Daily Citizen 15 Feb. Magoo, irrelevant and deceitful small talk, judicious and soothing leg pulling, a linguistic banquet. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 30 June 2/1 I, too, have lived in Australia, where leg-pulling is one of the chief joys of life. 1946 R.A.F. Jrnl. May 178 ‘Liz’ and ‘Sally’..will take any amount of leg pulling—and give it. 2013 Telegraph (India) (Nexis) 30 July There was a lot of chatting, discussion, leg-pulling and fun. leg raise n. any of various exercises in which one or both legs are slowly raised and lowered; frequently with modifying word specifying the position of the body, as lying, side, etc. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > exercise > [noun] > specific exercises breathing1605 breather1802 arm swing1859 setting-up drill1862 grasshopper march1884 lunge1889 push-up1897 sit-up1900 pull-up1901 deep-breathing1904 bag-punching1927 press-up1928 setting-up exercise1935 pullover1936 bear crawl1937 burpee1939 knee-bend1941 leg raise1944 dip1945 uddiyana1949 squat thrust1950 lateral1954 pull-down1956 aquacise1968 step-up1973 abdominal crunch1981 power walking1982 crunch1983 gut-buster1983 stomach crunch1986 1944 Waterloo (Iowa) Daily Courier 17 Feb. 4/2 After 10 days.., increase the number of leg-raises..to four or five. 1949 Jrnl. Amer. Folklore 62 179 The unit was doing leg raises, where you lie on your back and lift your legs up and down, slowly, holding them straight all the time, until they feel like lead. 1969 Skiing Feb. 28/3 This [program] involves prone leg raises, and trunk lifts with a pillow under the hips. 1994 N. Parker Parkhurst Tales xviii. 224 I did..strict sit-ups and leg-raises in non-stop, frantic rotation. 2002 Sunday Mail (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 8 Sept. b8 Side leg raises... Lie on your side... Raise leg to 45-degree angle. 2011 F. Delavier & M. Gundill Delavier's Core Training Anat. 50/3 Seated leg raises offer more resistance than lying leg raises. leg rest n. (a) a support for the legs intended to provide comfort; cf. footrest n. at foot n. and int. Compounds 3; (b) a tripod or similar stand for a piece of equipment. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > support for the leg when seated leg rest1823 society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > support or rest > [noun] > for legs leg rest1823 ease-and-comfort1847 1823 Hampshire Tel. & Sussex Chron. 22 Sept. 1/4 (advt.) Portable bearing chair and leg rest. 1855 E. C. Gaskell North & South II. v. 68 He was busy..contriving a leg-rest for Dixon, who was beginning to feel the fatigues of watching. 1886 Ann. Rep. Adjutant General Commonw. Mass. 1885 155 (table) Drum leg-rests. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 4 Apr. 10/2 Owing to the outer casing and the light folding leg-rests..it matters not how heated the barrel becomes. 1973 Green Shield Stamps Catal. No. 12. 133 (caption) Garden Chair with Leg Rest. Adjustable to 8 positions. 2006 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 8 Oct. viii. 6/3 Some of Martin's machines were developed so that injured players could use them, including a new full-body squat and leg-press that has a snap-down leg rest. leg-ringing n. the practice of fitting a leg ring (leg ring n. 3) to an animal, esp. a bird; an instance of this. ΚΠ 1943 Jrnl. Wildlife Managem. 7 403/2 The animal [sc. a muskrat] was rebanded by leg-ringing. 1963 Times 5 June 14/4 Mr. Nicholson has helped in many major ornithological achievements, notably in the hazardous but successful leg-ringing of young Eleanora's falcons. 2009 Paisley Daily Express (Nexis) 20 Sept. 13 I was involved in a hen harrier leg-ringing and wing-tagging project when I worked as a countryside ranger at Muirshiel 20 years ago. legroom n. space in front of a seat for the legs of the person seated, esp. in a car or aeroplane. ΘΚΠ the world > space > [noun] > sufficient space or room > for legs legroom1837 society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > space for legs legroom1837 footwell1901 well1929 1837 W. B. Adams Eng. Pleasure Carriages xv. 230 The leg-room in the interior is abundant for reclining at full length if necessary. 1896 London Society July 26 All we want is a certain amount of change and gaiety combined with a comfortable seat and plenty of leg room. 1928 Punch 18 Apr. p. xxii (advt.) Carries four full-sized people. Ample leg-room... A wonderful performer for such a small horse-powered car. 2012 N.Y. Times Mag. 8 July 11 I was thankful to secure an exit-row middle seat with ample legroom on a recent Australian domestic flight. legs eleven n. (a humorous nickname for) the number eleven in the game of bingo; sometimes shortened to legs (see sense 17). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > bingo or lotto > [noun] > specific numbers clickety-click1917 legs eleven1917 legs1933 1917 A. G. Empey Over Top xix. 148 The caller-out has many nicknames for the numbers such as ‘Kelly's Eye’ for one, ‘Leg's [sic] Eleven’ for eleven, ‘Clickety-click’ for sixty-six, [etc.]. 1958 I. Ryan Black Man's Palaver iv. 69 Waiting with pencils poised for the caller's jargon to begin: ‘Eyes-down-look-in! Sixty-six-clickety-click. Legs-eleven.’ 2002 P. Collins Men from Boys 135 He needed only two calls: all the fours, droopy drawers and legs eleven. † leg-saw n. Obsolete a kind of saw (precise form and purpose unclear). ΚΠ 1608 Rates Marchandizes 1 Legg-sawes the peece, iij.s.iiij.d. 1662 in Statutes at Large, Ireland (1765) II. 464 Leg-saws the piece 6s. 8d. leg shield n. a protective panel on a saddle (or one of a pair extending on either side) which shields the horse-rider's legs, esp. in warfare or jousting (now historical); (later also) each of a pair of similar panels which extend on either side of the saddle of a motorcycle or motor scooter. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > armour for limbs > [noun] > leg armour leg harnessa1382 leg splint1430 chausses1484 leg shield1858 leglet1886 1858 Archaeol. Jrnl. 15 45 In the sixteenth century we find a modification of the old leg-shield..it now consists of one piece, protecting the horse's breast, and the knight's body from the waist downwards. 1860 J. Hewitt Anc. Armour III. 390 The leg-shield of the saddle is found in woodcut No. 49. 1913 Z. Grey Desert Gold vii. 123 Free of heavy saddle and the clumsy leg shields, Blanco Sol was somehow all-satisfying to the eyes of the rangers. 1925 E. T. Brown Compl. Motor-cyclist 126 The non-essential accessories include a luggage grid, speedometer, leg-shields [etc.]. 2005 Scootering June 27/3 The bodywork too needed some tic, with the panels and legshields kinked and bent. † leg shop n. U.S. slang. Obsolete a theatre showing performances featuring dancing girls in revealing costumes; cf. leg show n. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > [noun] > other types of theatre little theatre1569 private house1604 private playhouse1609 amphitheatre1611 private theatre1633 droll-house1705 summer theatre1761 show shop1772 national theatre1816 minor1821 legitimate1826 patent house1827 patent theatre1836 showboat1839 music theatre1849 penny-gaff1856 saloon theatre1864 leg shop1871 people's theatre1873 nickelodeon1888 repertory theatre1891 studio theatre1891 legit1897 blood-tub1906 rep1906 small-timer1910 grind house1923 theatrette1927 indie1928 vaude1933 straw hat1935 theatre-in-the-round1948 straw-hatter1949 bughouse1952 theatre-restaurant1958 dinner theatre1959 theatre club1961 black box1971 pub theatre1971 performance space1972 1871 ‘M. Twain’ Screamers xxviii. 144 They're playing ‘Undine’ at the Opery House, and some folks call it the leg shop. leg show n. slang (originally U.S.) a show featuring dancing girls in revealing costumes. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > variety, etc. > [noun] > leg-show leg show1873 leg piece1918 1873 Chem. News 3 Oct. 179/1 Noblemen and other millionaires can be found who will devote ten of thousands in a single season to support an opera house or theatrical leg-show. 1882 J. J. Jennings Theatr. & Circus Life 238 The minor musical attractions of the quasi legitimate stage have usurped its principal feature—the leg show. 1930 J. Brophy & E. Partridge Songs & Slang Brit. Soldier: 1914–1918 137 At a leg-show of these days you saw far less of the female form than is now exhibited in the streets. 2013 Washington Post (Nexis) 26 May e1 Back in the day, the leg show and striptease facilitated the ogling of attractive women. leg snare n. a device designed for capturing wild animals or birds, typically consisting of a string with a running noose intended to tighten around the leg; cf. snare n. 1a, leg trap n. (b). ΚΠ 1968 Proc. Bear Workshop (Internat. Assoc. Bear Res.) 1 13 Some bears were trapped in the area using the Aldrich Leg Snare. 1986 N.Y. Times 29 Dec. a21/3 Cruel, wasteful and totally unnecessary because there are other kinds of traps (leg snare, box, etc.) that serve the same purpose.., the steel-jawed leghold trap is a throwback to barbarism. 2013 M. Hawthorne Bleating Hearts ii. 75 Today's trappers use a flexible braided steel cable to create either a leg snare or the more lethal neck or body snare. leg-tired adj. = leg-weary adj. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > [adjective] > specific limbs leaden1578 leg-weary1629 heavy-handeda1634 leg-tired1740 1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 149 If he..change his Feet, it denotes he is leg-tired. 1894 Longman's Mag. Jan. 268 The suppleness of muscle was probably the reason why Mr. Weston was never ‘leg-tired’. 2008 G. A. Poole Galloping Ghost i. iv. 62 Banged and bruised, back-weary and leg-tired, Grange could barely practice that week. leg trap n. (a) Cricket (originally) a delivery used by W. G. Grace with the aim of enticing the batter to give a catch to the fielder at square leg (now historical and rare); (later) an array of fielders stationed close in on the leg side of the wicket for catches: cf. leg theory n. at Compounds 2b; (b) a device designed for capturing wild animals or birds, typically consisting of a pair of metal jaws which snap shut around the leg; cf. trap n.¹ 1a; leg snare n. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] > fielder > fielders by position middle wicket1772 long-stop1773 second stop1773 stop1773 long fieldsman1790 long field?1801 third man1801 outscout1805 leg1816 point1816 slip1816 backstop1819 long fielder1835 long leg1835 long field off1837 short leg1843 square leg1849 cover-point1850 long-stopper1851 middle-off1851 cover-slip1854 long off1854 left fielder1860 short square1860 mid-off1865 extra cover (point)1867 deep-fielder1870 mid-on1870 cover1897 leg trap1897 infield1898 deep field1900 slipper1903 slip fieldsman1906 midwicket1909 infieldsman1910 slip-catcher1920 infielder1927 leg slip1956 1897 Manch. Guardian 12 July 8/1 Nearly all his wickets were secured by that funny ball of his known for some twenty years as ‘Grace's leg trap’. 1899 Eng. Illustr. Mag. Dec. 183/1 Between the ends of what are seen to be boats in the complete picture, are a number of animals circling round a leg-trap, while a hunter not far off is despatching another creature whose legs are tied together. 1919 W. T. Grenfell Labrador Doctor xiii. 240 If fox-farming some day should actually supersede the use of the present sharp-toothed leg trap, no small gain would have been effected. 1948 D. Reese Was it all Cricket? xiii. 181 He [sc. W. G. Grace] kept pitching them on the pads, and towards the end of the innings Nott..hit him on the half-volley hard and low to square-leg... The ‘Old Man’ chuckled about his leg trap coming off. 1963 Times 5 June 4/2 He took a pace to Titmus only to turn him gently into the leg trap. 1993 Albuquerque (New Mexico) Jrnl. 14 Apr. d3/5 Its predator control plan stalled in a dispute over how frequently leg traps should be checked. 2011 Independent 6 Aug. 40 His 40 victims in the leg trap making him the leading catcher, other than wicketkeepers, in the country. leg tripping n. †(a) adj. [after German beinstellend (1818 or earlier)] characterized by the use of leg tripping (see (b)) Obsolete. rare; (b) n. the action of tripping another, (sometimes) specifically with one's own leg; an instance of this . ΚΠ 1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust (Boston ed.) II. iii. 290 Eros, also, he overcame In leg-tripping [Ger. beinstellendem] wrestling match. 1888 Wisconsin State Reg. 28 Apr. It is said he will confess to the synod that he forced young ladies to rough and tumble frolics, leg-tripping and tickling, but denies any improper intentions in his playful conduct. 2012 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 1 Jan. Closing a loophole in the rulebook to remove an existing distinction between hand, foot and leg tripping. leg warmer n. (usually in plural) each of a pair of (usually knitted) coverings for the legs intended to keep the wearer warm, esp. tubular garments which cover the leg from ankle to thigh, worn by ballerinas during rehearsal, and subsequently also by others as a fashion accessory. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > [noun] > other > article of strapplec1000 leg guard1796 puttee1882 leg warmer1915 1915 Washington Post 6 Apr. 4/2 All sorts and conditions of women—knitting—knitting mittens, socks, mufflers, and leg warmers [for soldiers]. 1952 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald Jrnl. 22 June 4 (caption) Ballerina Tamara Toumanova slips on a set of leg-warmers to keep her dancing gams from ‘cooling off’ between takes. 1976 Times 30 Mar. 10 Leg-warmers, accessory of every freezing dance rehearsal room, emerged as a stylish cover-up for girls. 1984 S. Townsend Growing Pains Adrian Mole 146 I had to make do with going into town with Pandora, who wanted to buy a pair of neon pink legwarmers. 2011 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 16 May 16 Customers can buy scarves, rugs and leg warmers made from alpaca wool. leg wax n. a depilatory treatment in which unwanted hair is removed from the legs using wax (cf. wax n.¹ Additions); (also) the wax used. ΚΠ 1941 Los Angeles Times 7 Oct. ii. 9/3 A schedule that keeps you going from appointments for manicure, pedicure.., facial, leg wax..to any service you may desire. 1995 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 22 Mar. 10 The..singer revealed: ‘I was looking for things for the tour and buying leg wax and knickers’. 2006 P. Williams Rise & Fall Yummy Mummy ix. 83 ‘Let's go in and get you sorted,’ says Kate. ‘A leg wax, isn't it?’ leg waxing n. the action or process of waxing one's legs, or having them waxed; an instance of this, a leg wax; cf. wax v.² 1c.Earliest in attributive use. ΚΠ 1943 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald-Amer. 6 June 3/7 (advt.) Elizabeth Arden leg-waxing treatment completely removes unsightly hair. 1991 Observer 22 Sept. 10/8 There is so much less stress here,..and far less leg waxing. 2005 C. Salzmann Dying to Decorate 61 I'm really thinking that I'd like to see how these macho men would stand up under a leg waxing. leg-weariness n. fatigue or aching in the legs, esp. after physical exertion. ΚΠ 1832 A. W. McClure Lect. on Ultra-Universalism ii. 24 They would never submit to the leg-weariness of trudging to meeting two or three times a week. 1929 Times 6 July 6/6 The race is completed without the slightest trace of distress or serious leg-weariness. 2008 Mail on Sunday (Nexis) 24 Feb. There were signs of leg-weariness in his Athens performance, but any man who has played 43 games already this season would be entitled to feel a little tired. leg-weary adj. that has tired or aching legs, esp. after physical exertion. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > [adjective] > specific limbs leaden1578 leg-weary1629 heavy-handeda1634 leg-tired1740 1629 J. Mabbe tr. C. de Fonseca Deuout Contempl. xxiii. 389 The Prophet Elias..came so bruised and so leg-wearie,..that he desired of God, that he would be pleased to take away his life. 1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) I. 243 The exciseman began to be leg-weary. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 319 The slow, hopeless, leg-weary jog. 1966 H. Marriott Cariboo Cowboy vii. 66 A fellow doing quite a bit of riding needs two or three horses at least, because riding one horse day after day makes the horse loggy and leg-weary. 2008 Time Out N.Y. 23 Aug. 47/3 Stuffed, but too leg-weary to handle a walk, we took a longish drive. legwood n. English regional (southern); now rare logs cut from trees, typically for use as firewood. Sometimes also as a typographical error for logwood. ΚΠ 1849 Jackson's Oxf. Jrnl. 10 Feb. Thomas Langstone, for stealing two pieces of elm leg wood, value 4s. 1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree I. i. iii. 28 We shall have a rare leg-wood fire directly. 1898 Oxf. Chron. 22 Jan. 1 A large number of Faggots and Legwood. 1917 Mod. Lang. Rev. 12 355 Legwood, small timber, used for firewood. leg worm n. the Guinea worm, Dracunculus medinensis, which typically infests the legs. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Nemathelminthes > [noun] > class Nematoda > genus Filaria > member of > filaria medinensis (Guinea worm) Guinea worm1699 leg worm1699 dracunculus1706 hairworm1752 sea-dragon1775 skin worm1831 rishta1834 1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. iii. 79 Two hairy Worms growing in the Author's Leg. Dangerous Leg-worms in the West Indies. 1857 E. Lankester tr. G. F. Küchenmeister On Animal & Veg. Parasites Human Body I. 398 Amongst the Germans, it is known as..the skin-worm.., leg-worm.., and Pharaoh's-worm. 2008 G. Vincent Animal Vista xxvi. 186 ‘Wow, a leg worm’, Teresa exclaimed... Dr. J grasped the free end with his fingers and pulled; the object stretched. b. Cricket. With the sense ‘directed towards the leg side; on the leg side’ (leg side n.). leg ball n. now rare a ball delivered on or outside the leg stump. ΚΠ 1829 Forget me Not 227 He missed a leg ball of Ned Smith's. 1870 Scotsman 30 May 7/1 Mr Chalmers..let go at a leg ball, and skied it straight up. 1932 N.Y. Times 29 Nov. 26 Finally falling when a leg ball he had played onto his pad slipped into the wicket. 1951 Observer 22 July 10/1 He then swished at a leg ball, and there was an appeal for caught behind the wicket. leg boundary n. the section of the boundary which marks the edge of the field on the leg side; cf. boundary n. 3a. ΚΠ 1863 Notts. Guardian 10 Apr. 7/6 Beautifully hit for 3 to the leg boundary by R. Daft. 1949 Scotsman 27 June 7/3 His first two or three strokes against Cave and Burtt found the leg boundary. 2011 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 4 Jan. (Sport section) 38 Observing that no one had been stationed on the leg boundary, Khawaja essayed a sweep. leg-cutter n. a seam-bowling delivery in which the ball deviates from the leg side towards the off side after pitching; cf. cutter n.¹ 5b(b). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > types of delivery or ball full toss1826 long hop1830 twister1832 bail ball1833 bailer1833 grubber1837 slow ball1838 wide1838 ground ball1839 shooter1843 slower ball1846 twiddler1847 creeper1848 lob1851 sneak1851 sneaker1851 slow1854 bumper1855 teaser1856 daisy-cutter1857 popper1857 yorker1861 sharpshooter1863 headball1866 screwball1866 underhand1866 skimmerc1868 grub1870 ramrod1870 raymonder1870 round-armer1871 grass cutter1876 short pitch1877 leg break1878 lob ball1880 off-break1883 donkey-drop1888 tice1888 fast break1889 leg-breaker1892 kicker1894 spinner1895 wrong 'un1897 googly1903 fizzer1904 dolly1906 short ball1911 wrong 'un1911 bosie1912 bouncer1913 flyer1913 percher1913 finger-spinner1920 inswinger1920 outswinger1920 swinger1920 off-spinner1924 away swinger1925 Chinaman1929 overspinner1930 tweaker1938 riser1944 leg-cutter1949 seamer1952 leggy1954 off-cutter1955 squatter1955 flipper1959 lifter1959 cutter1960 beamer1961 loosener1962 doosra1999 1949 Scotsman 7 Feb. 7 He occasionally introduced a leg-cutter which ‘fizzed’ across. 1963 Times 25 Apr. 4/5 He went to Lord's last year to play his first match for Warwickshire and within a couple of overs had bowled everything from a leg-cutter to an inswinger. 2005 R. Smyth in M. Adamson et al. Is it Cowardly to pray for Rain? 237 Inevitably Flintoff begins, bowling over the wicket to Katich this time, and promptly beats him with a beautiful, trampolining leg-cutter. leg glance n. a stroke in which the batter holds the face of the bat at an angle in order to deflect a ball pitching on or outside leg stump behind square leg; cf. glance n.¹ 1b. The terms glance and glide are usually used synonymously, though sometimes glance refers specifically to this stroke when it is played with a quick turn of the batter's wrists as the ball comes onto the bat, whereas glide more strongly suggests a simple deflection. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke long ball1744 nip1752 catch1816 no-hit1827 cut1833 short hit1833 draw1836 drive1836 square hit1837 skylarker1839 skyer1840 skyscraper1842 back-cut1845 bum1845 leg sweep1846 slog1846 square cut1850 driver1851 Harrow drive1851 leg slip1852 poke1853 snick1857 snorter1859 leg stroke1860 smite1861 on-drive1862 bump ball1864 rocketer1864 pull1865 grass trimmer1867 late cut1867 off-drive1867 spoon1871 push1873 push stroke1873 smack1875 Harrow drive1877 pull-stroke1880 leg glance1883 gallery-hit1884 boundary-stroke1887 glide1888 sweep1888 boundary1896 hook1896 leg glide1896 backstroke1897 flick1897 hook stroke1897 cover-drive1898 straight drive1898 square drive1900 edger1905 pull-drive1905 slash1906 placing stroke1907 push drive1912 block shot1915 if-shot1920 placing shot1921 cow-shot1922 mow1925 Chinese cut1937 haymaker1954 hoick1954 perhapser1954 air shot1956 steepler1959 mishook1961 swish1963 chop- 1883 Cricket 19 Apr. 39/1 Horan came in after lunch, and soon commenced to score in his own peculiar style, leg glances being his favourite stroke. 1926 J. B. Hobbs Test Match Surprise xvi. 171 What he intended for a leg glance was nothing more than a ‘mow’ between square leg and mid-on. 1993 Cricket World 3 Apr. 24/3 It's tempting to remember the game as all style and elegance, as symbolized by Ranji's leg-glance and Denis Compton's cover drive. 2014 Guardian 29 Dec. Looking for a feathered edge off a leg-glance, perhaps? leg glide n. a leg glance, esp. when played with little or no movement of the batter's wrists; cf. glide n. 1b. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke long ball1744 nip1752 catch1816 no-hit1827 cut1833 short hit1833 draw1836 drive1836 square hit1837 skylarker1839 skyer1840 skyscraper1842 back-cut1845 bum1845 leg sweep1846 slog1846 square cut1850 driver1851 Harrow drive1851 leg slip1852 poke1853 snick1857 snorter1859 leg stroke1860 smite1861 on-drive1862 bump ball1864 rocketer1864 pull1865 grass trimmer1867 late cut1867 off-drive1867 spoon1871 push1873 push stroke1873 smack1875 Harrow drive1877 pull-stroke1880 leg glance1883 gallery-hit1884 boundary-stroke1887 glide1888 sweep1888 boundary1896 hook1896 leg glide1896 backstroke1897 flick1897 hook stroke1897 cover-drive1898 straight drive1898 square drive1900 edger1905 pull-drive1905 slash1906 placing stroke1907 push drive1912 block shot1915 if-shot1920 placing shot1921 cow-shot1922 mow1925 Chinese cut1937 haymaker1954 hoick1954 perhapser1954 air shot1956 steepler1959 mishook1961 swish1963 chop- 1896 Dundee Courier & Argus 4 May 6/1 The latter opened his account with a 5 leg glide to the boundary. 1920 D. J. Knight in P. F. Warner Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) (new ed.) i. 33 The first of the leg strokes, the leg glide, is a glorious one to watch. 1955 Times 12 July 12/4 Just before luncheon he had lost Brookes, who, after a beautiful leg glide, missed one from Smith to be out leg before. 2013 Daily Tel. 19 July The first Indian genius was Ranjitsinhji, he of the silky leg glide and late cut. leg hit n. an aggressive or powerful stroke in which the ball is hit to the leg side; (in early use) spec. a stroke played on the front foot in which the batter hits a ball pitched outside the leg stump to or behind square leg. ΚΠ 1833 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 293/2 His cut to the point was unrivalled, and his leg hit very powerful and sure. 1888 R. H. Lyttelton in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) ii. 65 George Parr's leg hit..was the sweep to long-leg off a shortish ball. 1951 Times 7 Mar. 2 He, like Coleman, was bowled trying a huge leg hit off Tattersall. 1994 Times 26 Aug. 38/3 Speight, attempting a leg hit, skied the last to the wicketkeeper. leg hitter n. a batter who regularly hits the ball to the leg side; (in early use) spec. a batter who is adept at playing a leg hit; cf. leg hit n. ΚΠ 1843 ‘Wykhamist’ Pract. Hints Cricket 17 He will soon become an effective leg-hitter. 1931 Pall Mall Mag. Aug. 106/1 George Parr of Notts, the finest leg-hitter of his own or any day—hitting to leg now. 1961 Guardian 31 Aug. 5/2 Miller, left-arm spinner and leg hitter, reached 53. 1968 Times 23 Aug. 11/4 Lindsay, a paragon leg hitter, hooked Cottam mightily and Butcher swung Shackleton over long leg for four. leg hitting n. the action of hitting the ball to the leg side; (in early use) spec. the action of playing a leg hit; cf. leg hit n. ΚΠ 1838 Brighton Patriot 21 Aug. The leg hitting of Wenman was some of the finest ever witnessed on the ground. 1895 Manch. Guardian 13 July 9/2 He batted his best form, his cutting and leg hitting being crisp and clean. 1963 Times 31 Aug. 3 The fierce driving and leg hitting by Barrington and Lock brought a partnership of 54. leg play n. (a) the action of hitting the ball to the leg side; (b) = pad play n. at pad n.² Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of batting blocking1637 quilting1822 defence1825 cutting1827 forward play1828 defensive1832 swiping1833 back-cutting1842 straight play1843 back play1844 sticking1873 leg play1877 off-driving1884 gallery-hitting1888 goose game1899 straight driving1904 stroke-play1905 pad play1906 on-driving1948 stroke-making1956 1877 Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 12 Feb. Alexander secured a single by pretty leg play. 1888 R. H. Lyttelton in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) xvi. 411 Is he [sc. the bowler] not entitled to a little consideration when all his efforts..are neutralised by the leg and not the bat? It may be reckoned a certainty that neither Dark nor Caldecourt could have foreseen the prevalence of modern leg play. 1908 Observer 30 Aug. 9/4 The dependence on the ball's pitching in a straight line..was equitable before leg play became an accomplishment of the highly defensive batsman. 1950 Spectator 18 Aug. 206/2 I am convinced that if Sir Donald [Bradman] had had my training in leg-play he would have made light of body-line bowling. 2011 Daily Tel. 11 Sept. Cook/Anderson have a bunch of fielders on the legside boundary, which seems a bit peculiar, seeing that Jadeja seems to have a pre-WG attitude to leg-play—i.e. that it's just not cricket. leg-spin n. spin that causes the ball to turn from the leg side towards the off side after it has pitched; (later also) bowling, typically wrist-spin, in which the ball is delivered with this spin; frequently attributive; cf. off-spin n. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > [noun] > a ball bowled > motion of ball > specific curl1833 screw1840 devil1845 rise1845 work1846 break1851 spin1851 hang1866 bump1867 fire1888 leg-spin1888 air break1900 turn1900 underspin1901 off-spin1904 finger spin1905 swing1906 back-spin1916 outswing1921 inswing1927 away swing1936 wrist-spin1960 1888 A. G. Steel in A. G. Steel & R. H. Lyttelton Cricket (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) iii. 116 The ball, coming from a great distance round the wicket and with a considerable amount of leg spin, would be gradually working away to the batsman's off side. 1924 Manch. Guardian 23 May 4/2 Pitching his leg spin on the middle of the wicket. 1966 B. Close Close on Cricket v. 55 We have a quantity of good finger-spin bowlers but few leg-spin bowlers in first-class cricket. 1987 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 17 Feb. (Sport section) 36 An excellent display of quality leg-spin bowling with subtle variation of line and length. 2015 Advertiser (Adelaide) (Nexis) 18 Jan. (Sport section) 33 Imran Khan, who was a great believer in leg-spin as an attacking weapon, utilised the talents of Mushtaq Ahmed to help him win the trophy. leg-spinner n. a bowler who bowls leg spin; (also) a leg spin delivery; cf. off-spin n. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > cricketer > [noun] > bowler > types of bowler slow bowler1823 fast bowler1828 bias bowler1854 round-arm1858 demon bowler1861 left-hander1864 chucker1882 lobster1889 slow1895 leg-breaker1904 speed merchant1913 leg-spinner1920 spin bowler1920 off-spinner1924 quickie1934 tweaker1935 swerve-bowler1944 pace bowler1947 seam bowler1948 spinner1951 seamer1952 wrist-spinner1957 outswinger1958 swing bowler1958 quick1960 stock bowler1968 paceman1972 leggy1979 1920 Observer 27 June 21 That leg-spinner of whom the papers have talked so much may easily bowl fifty per cent. 1924 Manch. Guardian 5/1 To hit against the break of a good-length leg spinner is to sin against the first principle of batsmanship. 1965 P. Walker Winning Cricket iv. 57 Nowadays you have to bowl leg spinners with the accuracy of an orthodox right hander to achieve even moderate success. 2005 Evening Standard (Nexis) 15 July 71 We must be wary we don't end up playing Shane Warne the myth rather than Shane Warne the leg-spinner. leg stroke n. = leg hit n. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke long ball1744 nip1752 catch1816 no-hit1827 cut1833 short hit1833 draw1836 drive1836 square hit1837 skylarker1839 skyer1840 skyscraper1842 back-cut1845 bum1845 leg sweep1846 slog1846 square cut1850 driver1851 Harrow drive1851 leg slip1852 poke1853 snick1857 snorter1859 leg stroke1860 smite1861 on-drive1862 bump ball1864 rocketer1864 pull1865 grass trimmer1867 late cut1867 off-drive1867 spoon1871 push1873 push stroke1873 smack1875 Harrow drive1877 pull-stroke1880 leg glance1883 gallery-hit1884 boundary-stroke1887 glide1888 sweep1888 boundary1896 hook1896 leg glide1896 backstroke1897 flick1897 hook stroke1897 cover-drive1898 straight drive1898 square drive1900 edger1905 pull-drive1905 slash1906 placing stroke1907 push drive1912 block shot1915 if-shot1920 placing shot1921 cow-shot1922 mow1925 Chinese cut1937 haymaker1954 hoick1954 perhapser1954 air shot1956 steepler1959 mishook1961 swish1963 chop- 1860 Birmingham Daily Post 27 June Anderson followed with one for a heavy leg stroke off the same bowler. 1906 Westm. Gaz. 12 July 4/1 This leg-stroke off a straight ball has two great merits—it scores runs and it puts the bowler off. 1949 Times of India 14 Aug. 5/4 Sutcliffe played too soon on a leg stroke to Hollies, and Bedser knelt to take the catch. 2014 Port Macquarie News (Nexis) 13 Jan. 11 Boydell's leg strokes were a feature of his innings, and his 63 were a valuable contribution. leg stump n. the stump on the leg side of the wicket defended by the batter; cf. off stump n. ΚΠ 1829 Bell's Life in London 23 Aug. When there shall be less than five players on a side, bounds shall be placed twenty-two yards each in a line from the off and leg stump. 1881 Daily News 9 July 2 Spiro was clean bowled, leg stump by the Eton captain. 1956 A. R. Alston Test Comm. ix. 62 Oakman edged an intended off-drive past the leg-stump for four. 2014 Guardian 19 Dec. He survives, somewhat luckily, replays showing the ball would have struck leg stump. leg sweep n. = sweep n. 5b. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of stroke long ball1744 nip1752 catch1816 no-hit1827 cut1833 short hit1833 draw1836 drive1836 square hit1837 skylarker1839 skyer1840 skyscraper1842 back-cut1845 bum1845 leg sweep1846 slog1846 square cut1850 driver1851 Harrow drive1851 leg slip1852 poke1853 snick1857 snorter1859 leg stroke1860 smite1861 on-drive1862 bump ball1864 rocketer1864 pull1865 grass trimmer1867 late cut1867 off-drive1867 spoon1871 push1873 push stroke1873 smack1875 Harrow drive1877 pull-stroke1880 leg glance1883 gallery-hit1884 boundary-stroke1887 glide1888 sweep1888 boundary1896 hook1896 leg glide1896 backstroke1897 flick1897 hook stroke1897 cover-drive1898 straight drive1898 square drive1900 edger1905 pull-drive1905 slash1906 placing stroke1907 push drive1912 block shot1915 if-shot1920 placing shot1921 cow-shot1922 mow1925 Chinese cut1937 haymaker1954 hoick1954 perhapser1954 air shot1956 steepler1959 mishook1961 swish1963 chop- 1846 W. Denison Cricket: Sketches of Players 17 His [sc. G. Brockwell's] ‘leg sweeps’ are very powerful, and generally speaking they are along the ground—not lifted. 1904 Manch. Guardian 17 May 4/5 Quaife soon after made an exceedingly clever leg sweep for the same result, and with a snick to leg gained the first boundary. 2000 Sunday Times 23 July 17 Matt Prior scored 93 before falling playing an ambitious leg sweep as he ran out of partners. leg theory n. the tactic or practice of bowling at the leg stump with a concentration of fielders close in on the leg side; cf. off-theory n. at off n. 4, leg trap n. (a) at Compounds 2a.While leg theory is sometimes used with spin-bowling, it is chiefly associated with seam bowling; with quot. 1933 cf. body line adj. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > [noun] > theories off-theory1883 leg theory1894 on-theory1896 1894 New Rev. May 635 Palmer also, good bowler as he was, would undoubtedly have been better if he had not embraced the leg-theory. 1923 Daily Mail 11 Aug. 7/4 Newman, following the fashion of the match, bowled the leg theory with a crescent of fieldsmen close in on the leg side. 1933 Times of India 7 Nov. 5/3 Larwood, who never bowled anything but fast leg theory—which is not bodyline at all—told me himself who invented the term. 2006 Times 8 Dec. 100 Warne is by no means the first bowler to have closed down a match with a version of what might be called leg theory. Derivatives leg-like adj. that resembles a leg in shape, appearance, or function. ΚΠ 1835 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 125 317 It will be sufficient to notice the determinate leg-like form of these disengaged limbs. 1893 T. R. R. Stebbing Hist. Crustacea iv. 41 Close up to the lower lip, and as little leg-like as any of the appendages, are placed the first maxillæ. a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. xiv. 353 Second come the pedipalps, usually six-jointed and leg-like. They help in feeling, compensating..for the absence of antennae. 1990 Sci. Amer. June 62 (caption) Frogfishes move across the substrate with the help of leg-like fins. They do so either by ‘crutching’..or by ‘walking’. 2011 Sherbrooke (Quebec) Record (Nexis) 6 Oct. 2 The spindly leg-like supports of each work rest on the gallery floor. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022). legv. Brit. /lɛɡ/, U.S. /lɛɡ/ Forms: see leg n. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: leg n. Etymology: < leg n. 1. a. transitive. to leg it. (a) To travel or move by foot; to walk or (now esp.) run. Cf. leg n. 1b. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > going swiftly on foot > go swiftly on foot [verb (intransitive)] to stir one's stumpsa1500 to leg it?1587 skelp1721 split1790 to show a leg1818 to go the pace1829 step1856 ?1587 J. Deacon Treat. Nobody is my Name sig. A8^v Come, let vs legge it a little to ouer-take the man. 1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker Dialogicall Disc. Spirits & Diuels 3 Well then, let vs legge it a little. 1837 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 1st Ser. (ed. 2) xxiv He was a leggin it off hot foot. 1899 R. Kipling Stalky & Co. i. 4 We're goin' along the cliffs after butterflies..We're goin' to leg it, too. You'd better leave your book behind. 1946 S. J. Perelman Keep it Crisp 202 I legged it to the stationery store. 2005 Bliss July 50/2 I legged it to the bathroom. (b) spec. colloquial (originally and chiefly British). To flee, run away. ΚΠ 1920 P. G. Wodehouse Little Warrior viii. 149 Jill Mariner had gone completely bust; Underhill had given her the miss-in-baulk; and the poor girl had legged it, no one knew where. 1921 P. G. Wodehouse Let. 3 July in Yours, Plum (1990) i. 23 Both men offered to sell me ‘other Wodehouse’ books, but I smiled gently and legged it. 1940 J. Strachey Let. in P. Meisel & W. Kendrick Bloomsbury/Freud 312 Things began to go off, so we turned round and legged it back to the house on the double. 1993 Options Aug. 44/3 To be honest, I didn't wait for Charlie, I just legged it. 2006 New Yorker 17 Apr. 70/3 If I leg it this minute, I'll have time to get down onto the road and into the van before the cops arrive. b. intransitive. Originally Scottish = sense 1a(a). With adverb of direction, esp. off. ΚΠ 1790 D. Morison Poems 7 The wives leg hame an' trim their fires. 1840 I. Steward Interdict I. 54 Blind Mawria legged off wid our share o' the last. 1910 Railroad Men Apr. 245/2 I had legged off half a mile to the rear of the train. 1987 W. Russell Our Day Out & Other Plays (1991) 54 (stage direct.) Reilly and Digga hear him and leg away past Colin and the terrified girls. 2004 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 14 Apr. f2 Reporter Long had legged off to participate with the rest of the runners. c. intransitive. To climb up a rope, tree, etc. Cf. shin v. 1. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > ascend (something) [verb (transitive)] > climb up or scale > climb by clasping with legs and arms climbc1275 swarm15.. grapple1598 swarvea1650 swarm1668 shin1891 leg1893 1893 J. M. Brown Stray Sport I. i. ii. 51 A troop of the large Hanúmán monkeys are legging up the trees. 1896 ‘O. Rhoscomyl’ Battlement & Tower xviii. 168 And to leg up a rope, like African monkeys, on to a wall having a guarded tower..at one end, and at the other a sally-port that can let out five times seventy men upon us! 1916 19th Cent. & After Apr. 743 And every morning my pal legged up a tree and lay there among the withies. 2004 C. Bateson Airdancer of Glass 113 He'd legged up a little of the cable to test it. †2. intransitive and transitive with it. To make a gesture of submission or deferential respect; to bow, curtsy. Also with unto. Cf. leg n. 4. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > respect or show respect [verb (intransitive)] > bow, kneel, or curtsey loutc825 abowOE bowa1000 kneel?a1000 kneec1000 crookc1320 to bow the knee1382 inclinec1390 crouchc1394 croukc1394 coucha1500 plya1500 to make or do courtesy1508 beck1535 to make a (long, low, etc.) leg1548 curtsya1556 dopc1557 binge1562 jouk1567 beckon1578 benda1586 humblea1592 vaila1593 to scrape a leg1602 congee1606 to give the stoop1623 leg1628 scrape1645 to drop a curtsy1694 salaam1698 boba1794 dip1818 to make (also perform) a cheese1834 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [verb (transitive)] > show respect for > bow or curtsey to lout971 abowOE aloutc1390 obeishc1400 curtsy1566 cringe1609 leg1628 salaam1684 wreathe1730 bob1847 1628 F. Hubert Deplorable Life Edward II (unauthorized ed.) 68 [They] Are legg'd and crouch'd vnto, for feare they sting. 1633 J. Shirley Bird in Cage v. i He'l kisse his hand and leg it. 3. To propel a canal boat through a tunnel by lying on the boat and pushing against the walls of the tunnel with one's legs. Frequently in to leg through. a. intransitive. Now historical. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > propelling other than by sail or oars > propel boat other than by sail or oars [verb (transitive)] > propel through tunnel by legs leg1825 1825 H. H. Joy Thames Navigation 65 The most approved mode of performing it [sc. the passage of a tunnel], videlicet, by lying on your back with your feet uppermost, and kicking or ‘legging’ through. 1888 Spectator 22 Sept. 1296/1 They save expense where they can, and leg through rather than pay us or the tug for taking them through the tunnels. 1953 ‘C. S. Forester’ Hornblower & Atropos i. 11 ‘Damn it,’ he said, ‘I'll help you leg through.’ 1993 S. Stewart Ramlin Rose vii. 74 You wasn't allowed to leg durin tug-hours, legging took over two hours and the tug was comin through one way or the other bout every hour. b. transitive. With the boat or tunnel as object. Now historical. ΚΠ 1836 G. Head Home Tour 144 Two hours is the time occupied in ‘legging’ a boat through. 1861 S. Smiles Lives Engineers II. 421 After legging Harecastle Tunnel..the men were usually completely exhausted. 1891 V. C. Cotes Two Girls on Barge 86 A little..boy was lying on his back, legging the boat along. 1907 Pall Mall Mag. July 114/2 This tunnel has to be ‘legged’ through. 2009 S. Fisher Canals of Brit. x. 48/2 Until 1871 boats were legged through. 4. transitive. To wound in the leg with a projectile, esp. in order to disable or injure without killing. Cf. wing v. 8. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] > wound > wound with missile shootc893 shoot1297 feather1415 to shoot (a person, thing) through1535 daga1572 pistol1598 lace1622 to shoot‥through and througha1648 pink1661 pop1762 plump1785 wing1802 drill1808 rifle1821 leg1829 hole1847 shot1855 blunderbuss1870 riddle1874 pip1900 slot1987 1829 W. M. Thackeray Let. 29 Mar. (1945) I. 50 I wish he had legged ‘The Duke’—at the Battle of Battersea. 1852 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 72 303 Those [pebbles] aimed at his head and body he turned aside, and jumped over those that threatened to leg him. 1887 A. J. Bethell Notes S. Afr. Hunting iii. 54 Small shot is only as a pleasant stimulant to him [sc. a pheasant], and you can wing him or leg him with large shot and still he will beat you. 1988 Shooting Times 18 Aug. 34/3 I legged a hare and it went into that hedge. 5. transitive. slang. To cause (a person) to fall or overbalance by tripping or otherwise impeding the legs. Also with up. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > cause to stumble and fall stumblec1330 supplantc1350 tripc1425 to give a person the foot1767 leg1835 1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 85 The name of Washington cured their wounds, and dried up their tears in an instant, and they legged him de novo. 1880 J. J. Wright Play with your own Marbles 105 He fell down, legged-up by something in the church-yard. 1899 D. A. Dickert Hist. Kershaw's Brigade xl. 506 You tackle him in front and I'll leg him in rear. 1968 K. M. van Zandt Force without Fanfare iii. 29 We legged him and soon had him on the ground. 2014 P. Earle Bubble Wrap Boy xxxv. 186 I could also see it getting caught..and legging me up before I even started. †6. transitive. Nautical. to leg along: to lead out (a rope or ropes) in preparation for use. Cf. sense leg n. 12. Obsolete.The precise meaning of this phrase is uncertain, and it is possible that leg along is a noun phrase belonging at leg n. Phrases 4 (cf. quot. 1867). ΚΠ 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Leg along, ropes laid on end, ready for manning. 1881 Naval Encyl. 431/2 Leg along, to lead out a rope ready to be manned. †7. transitive. With up. To raise (a boat) off the ground using bars or poles as props. Cf. leg n. 9a. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1886 R. C. Leslie Sea-painter's Log iv. 68 The selection of a good hard bottom upon which to lay ashore and leg-up a yacht, is an important matter. 1894 R. C. Leslie Waterbiogr. x. 187 A small fleet of half-decked trawlers and shrimpers..lay legged up on the hard for a scrub. †8. transitive. Cricket. To hit (a ball) to the leg side; = to hit to (the) leg at leg n. 23. Cf. leg hit n. at leg n. Compounds 2b. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > bat [verb (transitive)] > hit > hit with specific stroke take1578 stop1744 nip1752 block1772 drive1773 cut1816 draw1816 tip1816 poke1836 spoon1836 mow1844 to put up1845 smother1845 sky1849 crump1850 to pick up1851 pull1851 skyrocket1851 swipe1851 to put down1860 to get away1868 smite1868 snick1871 lift1874 crack1882 smack1882 off-drive1888 snip1890 leg1892 push1893 hook1896 flick1897 on-drive1897 chop1898 glance1898 straight drive1898 cart1903 edge1904 tonk1910 sweep1920 mishook1934 middle1954 square-drive1954 tickle1963 square-cut1976 slash1977 splice1982 paddle1986 1892 R. Blatchford Fantasias 89 Pringles legged him for four. 1902 Westm. Gaz. 11 July 5/2 The newcomer at once started scoring... Nicholl followed him by legging Hopley to the covered stands. 1903 Star 8 July 3/4 His first ball was legged by Ranji for what would really have been 3 with a couple of smart sprinters. 9. transitive. Sheep-shearing (chiefly New Zealand). To catch (a sheep) by the leg and drag it to be sheared. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > lay hold of or grasp > by specific part of body scruff1885 leg1915 1915 Amer. Sheep Breeder Oct. 455/1 The double action swing doors of the catching pens effectually cure shearers of the careless habit of 'legging' the sheep. 1951 L. G. D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs 385 To leg a sheep is to haul him from the pen to the board by his hind leg, a practice much objected to, especially by owners of heavy sheep. 1955 G. Bowen Wool Away! 19 Legging the sheep out on the board. The sheep is caught by the hind leg, and, with the other hand on the back of the sheep, it is dragged backwards. 10. transitive. Baseball. to leg out: to reach a base or home plate safely on (a batted ball), esp. as a result of swift running on a close play. ΚΠ 1933 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. 23 June f3/1 Thomas had ‘legged’ one [sc. a single] out in the third on a grounder to Joe Longnecker. 1968 Joplin (Missouri) News Herald 25 July b2/4 (photo caption) Chuck Huddleston..legs out a grounder in the second inning of the..Babe Ruth League game. 1997 A. M. Klein Baseball on Border Pref. p. x This mustachioed burly trio lives for power, rarely attempting to leg out a wall-banging hit for a double. 2013 Toronto Star (Nexis) 3 July (Sports section) s4 Josh giddy-upped to first legging out a weak bleeder that Cabrera bounced on the throw. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.c1300v.?1587
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legn.

Phrases

Compounds

Derivatives

legv.