leekn.
/liːk/, U.S. /lik/ 1. A culinary herb, Allium Porrum (family Liliaceæ), allied to the onion, but differing from it in having the bulbous part cylindrical and the leaves flat and broad.
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the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > onion, leek, or garlic > [noun] > leek
leekeOE
scallion1393
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > leek
leekeOE
scallion1393
French leek1548
eOE Sax. Leechd. II. 234 Gebeat þæt leac & þa rudan gegnid togædere.
a1300 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 555/7 Porius, i. poret, i. lek.
14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 710/23 Hic bilbus, a lekes hed.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 291 Wiþ þe iuys of a strong oynoun, or wiþ ius of lekis.
a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 47 Grynd þy lecus in morter fre.
c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 404 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 315 In þe ȝard [he] sone has sene caile & leikis faire & grene.
1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni (1535) 31 a Garlike, oynions, and also likes are nat holsome for temperate bodyes.
1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 138 The Leeke is hot and dry, and doth attenuate.
1656 A. Cowley Pindarique Odes 54 in Poems But we, alas, the Flesh-pots love, We love the very Leeks and sordid roots below.
1722 London Gaz. No. 6043/2 All the Company wore Leeks in Honour to the Princess [of Wales].
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 39 The tall Leek, tapering with his rushy stem.
1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin Narr. Surv. Voy. H.M.S. Adventure & Beagle III. xx. 511 A leek,..has overrun whole districts,..[in New Zealand] was imported lately by the favour of a French vessel.
2. Applied with qualifications to:
a. Other species of Allium, as stone leek n. the Welsh onion, A. fistulosum (Treas. Bot. 1866), formerly called holleke n. vine leek n. (also †leek of the vine) A. Ampeloprasum (Treas. Bot.). wild leek n. A. ursinum. French leek n. (see French leek n. at French adj. and n. Compounds 1d).
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the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > garlic > wild garlic
ramseOE
ramsonsOE
affodilla1400
ramps?a1425
ramsey1499
wild leek1551
bear's garlic1578
buckrams1578
lily leek1597
moly1597
vine-leek1597
wild chive1784
ramp1826
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry ii. f. 60 The headded, or set Leeke,..in Latine Capitatum.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Porreau de chien,..wild Leeke, French Leek, Leeke of the Vine. Porreau sectil, ou tondu, the cut Leeke, maidens Leeke, blade Leeke, vnset Leeke. Porreau testu, the headed or knobbed Leeke, set Leeke, vncut Leeke.
1853 G. Johnston Terra Lindisfarnensis I. 198 Allium ursinum. Ramps: Wild Leeks. Moist woods and deans, abundant and gregarious.
1874 J. C. Geikie Life in Woods (ed. 2) xiii. 205 The wild leeks in the bushes.
b. Bulbous plants of other genera, as † corn-leek n. Obsolete (see quot. 1551). dog leek n. (also dog's leek) (see dog's leek n. at dog n.1 Compounds 3c). Also crow-leek n., houseleek n.
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1551 W. Turner New Herball sig. G vv Bulbine..may be called in English Corne leeke or wyldeleeke.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Oignon sauvage,..the wild field Onyon, Bulbine,..Corne Leeke.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Porreau de chien, Dogs Leeke.
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the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little worth
ivy-leafc1000
needle?c1225
sloec1250
peasea1275
strawc1290
bean1297
nutc1300
buttonc1330
leekc1330
trifle1375
cress1377
goose-wing1377
sop1377
niflec1395
vetcha1400
a pin's head (also point)c1450
trump1513
plack1530
toy1530
blue point1532
grey groat1546
cherry-stone1607
jiggalorum1613
candle-enda1625
peppercorn1638
sponge1671
sneeshing1686
snottera1689
catchpenny1705
potato1757
snuff1809
pinhead1828
traneen1837
a hill of beans1863
gubbins1918
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 3644 Bodi & soule no nouȝt þer-of No is nouȝt worþ a lekes clof.
c1386 G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale 106 Every man that holt him worth a leek.
c1386 G. Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 242.
a1400–50 Alexander 4228 Ȝour lare of a leke suld neuire þe les worth.
a1483 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 278 Thay were not of thayre entent the nere of a leke.
14.. Childe of Bristowe 8 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 111 The beste song that ever was made ys not worth a lekys blade, but men wol tende ther-tille.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. i. 7 Now, therof a leke what rekys vs?
a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. A.vi They make her wynche and keke But it is not worth a leke.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. iii. 91 And broaking Lawes for Bribes, prophane your Place, To leaue a Leeke to your vnthankfull Race.
1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 1374 I know no liquor worth a leeke To quench his deidly drouth.
?a1800 Willie's drowned in Gamery iii, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1890) IV. vii. 181/1 I dinna value their love a leek.
4.
a. Proverbial and allusive phrases, referring to the colour of the leek, to its being the national emblem of the Welsh, etc. as clean as a leek (Scottish): perfectly, completely, entirely.
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the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > green thing > [noun] > typical green thing
leek1362
society > communication > indication > insignia > [noun] > specific emblems, badges, or cognizances > national
ravenOE
thistle1488
red cross1523
St George's cross1548
Britannia1605
red rose1618
British Lion1687
shamrock1712
leek1714
American eagle1782
rising sun1787
white horse1814
Bird of Freedom1825
Union Jack1847
maple leaf1860
meatball1919
red star1920
hammer and sickle1921
chakra1947
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. v. 65 As a leek that hedde i-leiȝen longe in the sonne, So loked he, with lene chekes lourede he foule.
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 212 Ful sad and caytif was she eek, And al-so grene as any leek.
1401 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 43 A lewid frere that men callen frere Daw Topias, as lewid as a leke.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 25 To haue an hoor heer and a grene tayl As hath a leek.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 7684 To his face she leid hir cheke She felt it cold as yse or leke.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. x. sig. Ciiiv Louers lyue by loue, ye as larks lyue by leekes.
1575 G. Gascoigne Dan Bartholmew in Poems (1869) I. 137 His flecked cheekes, Nowe cherrye redde, nowe pale and greene as leekes.
1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. E3 Men..die for loue, when larkes die with leekes.
1630 T. Dekker Second Pt. Honest Whore i. ii. 43 Tho my head be like a Leeke, white: may not my heart be like the blade, greene?
1714 J. Gay Shepherd's Week i. 83 Leek to the Welch, to Dutchmen Butter's dear.
1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth III. 118 St. David, you know, loves Leeks, and toasted Cheese.
1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd i. i For now, as clean's a leek, Ye've cherish'd me since ye began to speak.
b. to eat the (or one's) leek: to submit to humiliation under compulsion (in allusion to the Shakespeare passage below).
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the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > be humiliated [verb (intransitive)]
to light lowc1225
to lie lowa1275
to carry (also bear) coalsa1529
to eat the (or one's) leek1600
to lose caste1828
to eat dirt1857
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V v. i. 10 Brings bread and sault, and bids me Eate my Leeke.
1835 B. Disraeli Let. 20 Aug. in Corr. with Sister (1886) 43 It was whispered the Whigs meant to swallow the Corporation leek.
1859 All Year Round 12 Nov. 61 The Welshmen very humbly ate their leek.
1882 R. L. Stevenson New Arabian Nights II. 196 There was nothing for it but to obey... But it was a leek to eat, and there was no denying it.
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the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of Europe > British nation > Welsh nation > [noun] > native or inhabitant of Wales
WelshmanOE
WelshlOE
West Britona1387
Britain1516
Briton1583
Walesman1591
flannela1616
Taffy1699
leek1725
Cambrian1780
Welsher1857
Welshy1875
South Walian1894
Taff1929
1725 New Canting Dict. Leaks, Welshmen.
1728 Street-robberies, Consider'd 33 Leake, Welshman.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle > [noun] > tumour
warnelc1000
waribreed?1523
warblea1585
leek1688
ox-spavin1728
pickeridge1882
warble-lump1886
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 172/2 The Porrum, or Leek of the Eye [in Cows] is a swelling tumor in the eye.
7. green-leek (parrot): see green adj. and n.1 Compounds 1d(b).
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
leek-bed n.
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the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > garden > division or part of garden > [noun] > bed or plot > bed in kitchen-garden > of specific plants
leek-bed14..
onion bed1565
leek-garth1570
14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 604/12 Porretarium, a lekbed.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie L 255 A leeke bed, or a place set with lekes.
1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. Leek-bed, it is usual in talking to children, when of an inquiring turn, to tell boys that they were dug up in the leek-bed.
leek-blade n.
ΚΠ
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Porraceus, of the coloure of leeke blades.
leek-colour n.
ΚΠ
1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 990 Three feet and shanks on each side of a leek colour.
leek-garth n.
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the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > garden > division or part of garden > [noun] > bed or plot > bed in kitchen-garden > of specific plants
leek-bed14..
onion bed1565
leek-garth1570
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Ciii/2 Ye Leekegarth, porretum.
leek-green n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > [noun] > shade or tint of green > leek green
leek-green1662
prasinous1826
the world > matter > colour > named colours > green or greenness > [adjective] > leek green
prasinea1398
leeky1552
leekish1576
porraceous1600
leek-green1864
1662 C. Merrett tr. A. Neri Art of Glass xxxii A very fair Sea-green, called Leek green.
1864 R. F. Burton Mission to Gelele 58 A broad leek-green swamp.
1865 G. Grote Plato I. i. 81 Blue, violet, leek-green, nut-brown.
leek-porridge n.
ΚΠ
1792 ‘P. Pindar’ Lousiad: Canto IV (new ed.) 11 Leek porridge, stirabout, we'll sooner want.
leek-pottage n.
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the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > soup or pottage > [noun] > vegetable soup
joutes1377
leek-pottagec1440
kalea1480
colea1500
nettle broth1652
spring pottage1661
minestra1673
spring soup1744
onion soup1747
shchi1824
Palestine soup1834
potato soup1834
tomato soup1840
julienne1841
gazpacho1845
printanier1867
minestrone1871
vichyssoise1939
pistou1979
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 295/2 Leek pottage porrata.
1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper II. ii. vii. 176 It will agree with the stomach of a Welshman as well as leek-pottage.
leek-seed n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > leek > stem, bulb, or seed
leek-seed1393
polt1614
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xiii. 190 Lynneseed and lik-seed and lente-seedes alle Aren nouht so worthy as whete.
1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni (1535) 91 b The..ieuse of henbane with the leke sede muste be bourned to gether.
leek-wort n.
ΚΠ
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6999 It wolde finde hom lec & worten [v.rr. lek worten, like worten, lekwort] inowe bi þe ȝere.
C2. † leek-head n. Obsolete (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1717 Dict. Rusticum (ed. 2) Leek-Heads, a kind of Warts that come about a Horse's Pasterns and Pastern-joints.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.eOE