leɡ n. & v. --n. 1 a
each of
the limbs on
which a
person or
animal walks
and stands. b the
part of
this from the hip to the
ankle. 2 a leg of an animal or
bird as
food. 3 an
artificial leg (wooden leg). 4 a part of a
garment covering a leg or part of a leg. 5 a a
support of a
chair,
table,
bed, etc. b a long
thin support or prop,
esp. a
pole. 6 Cricket the
half of the
field (as divided
lengthways through the pitch) in which the striker's
feet are placed (opp. OFF). 7 a a
section of a
journey. b a section of a
relay race. c a
stage in a
competition. d
one of
two or
more games constituting a
round. 8 one
branch of a
forked object. 9 Naut. a
run made on a
single tack. 10
archaic an
obeisance made by
drawing back one leg and bending it
while keeping the
front leg
straight. --v.tr. (legged, legging)
propel (a boat) through a
canal tunnel by
pushing with one's legs
against the tunnel sides. øfeel (or find) one's legs
become able to
stand or
walk.
give a person a leg up
help a person to mount a
horse etc. or
get over an
obstacle or
difficulty.
have the legs of be able to go
further than. have no legs colloq. (of a
golf ball etc.) have
not enough momentum to
reach the desired
point.
keep one's legs not
fall. leg
before wicket Cricket (of a batsman)
out because of illegally obstructing the ball with a part of the
body other than the
hand. leg break Cricket 1 a ball which deviates from the leg
side after bouncing. 2
such deviation. leg-bye see
BYE(1). leg-cutter Cricket a fast leg break. leg-iron a
shackle or
fetter for the leg. leg it colloq. walk or run
hard. leg-of-mutton
sail a
triangular mainsail. leg-of-mutton
sleeve a sleeve which is full and
loose on the upper arm but close-fitting on the forearm. leg-pull colloq. a
hoax. leg-rest a support for a seated invalid's leg. leg-room
space for the legs of a seated person. leg-show a
theatrical performance by scantily-dressed
women. leg slip Cricket a
fielder stationed for a ball glancing
off the bat to the leg side
behind the wicket. leg
spin Cricket a
type of spin which causes the ball to
deviate from the leg side after bouncing. leg
stump Cricket the stump on the leg side. leg
theory Cricket
bowling to leg with fielders massed on
that side. leg trap Cricket a
group of fielders
near the wicket on the leg side. leg warmer
either of a
pair of
tubular knitted garments covering the leg from ankle to
thigh. not have a leg to stand on be
unable to support one's
argument by facts or
sound reasons. on one's last legs near
death or the
end of one's usefulness etc. on one's legs 1 (also on one's hind legs)
standing esp. to
make a
speech. 2 well enough to walk
about.
take to one's legs run
away. øølegged adj. (also in comb.). legger n. [ME f. ON leggr f. Gmc]