Leg
Leg (leg) , noun
[Icelandic leggr; akin to Danish lag calf of the leg, Swedish lagg.]
1.
A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the body, and in running, climbing, and swimming; esp., that part of the limb between the knee and foot.
2.
That which resembles a leg in form or use; especially, any long and slender support on which any object rests; as, the leg of a table; the leg of a pair of compasses or dividers.
3.
The part of any article of clothing which covers the leg; as, the leg of a stocking or of a pair of trousers.
4.
A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a leg; probably from drawing the leg backward in bowing. [Obsolete]
He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks for a favor he never received.
5.
A disreputable sporting character; a blackleg. [Slang, English]
6.
(Nautical) The course and distance made by a vessel on one tack or between tacks.
7.
(Steam Boiler) An extension of the boiler downward, in the form of a narrow space between vertical plates, sometimes nearly surrounding the furnace and ash pit, and serving to support the boiler; -- called also water leg.
8.
(Grain Elevator) The case containing the lower part of the belt which carries the buckets.
9.
(Cricket) A fielder whose position is on the outside, a little in rear of the batter.
10.
(Mathematics) Either side of a triangle distinguished from the base or, in a right triangle, from the hypotenuse; also, an indefinitely extending branch of a curve, as of a hyperbola.
11.
(Telephony) A branch or lateral circuit connecting an instrument with the main line.
12.
(Electricity) A branch circuit; one phase of a polyphase system.
Collocations (8)
A good leg (Nautical) , a course sailed on a tack which is near the desired course.
Leg bail , escape from custody by flight. [Slang]
Legs of an hyperbola (Geometry) , the branches of the curve which extend outward indefinitely.
Legs of a triangle , the sides of a triangle; -- a name seldom used unless one of the sides is first distinguished by some appropriate term; as, the hypotenuse and two legs of a right-angled triangle.
On one's legs , standing to speak.
On one's last legs , See under Last.
To have legs (Nautical) , to have speed.
To stand on one's own legs , to support one's self; to be independent.
Leg (leg) , transitive verb
To use as a leg, with it as object
(a)
To bow.
(b)
To run. [Obsolete; Low]