leg

leg [leg]

n.

[ME < ON leggr, a leg, limb < IE base * lek-, limb > L lacertus, muscle, lacerta, lizard]

1. one of the parts of the body by means of which animals stand and walk, specif., in human beings,

a) one of the lower limbs

b) Anat. the part of either lower limb from the knee to the foot

2. a cut of meat consisting of the leg or its lower part

3. the part of a stocking, slacks, etc. that covers the leg

4. anything that resembles a leg in shape or use; specif.,

a) a bar or pole used as a support or prop

b) any of the supports of a piece of furniture

c) any of the branches of a forked or jointed object

5. the run made by a sailing vessel on one tack

6. any of the stages of a journey or other course

7. [pl.] Slang a sustained ability to attract audiences: said as of a film

8. Cricket that part of the field which lies to the left and back of the batsman

9. Math. either of the sides of a triangle other than its base or, in a right-angled triangle, its hypotenuse

vi.

legged, legging

Informal to walk or run: chiefly in the phr. leg it

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get up on one's hind legs

Informal to become assertive, belligerent, etc.

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give a leg up Informal

1. to help to mount

2. to help advance

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not have a leg to stand on

Informal to have absolutely no defense, excuse, or justification

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on one's last legs or on its last legs

Informal not far from exhaustion, death, breakdown, etc.

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pull someone's leg

Informal to make fun of or fool by playing on a person's credulity

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shake a leg Slang

1. to hurry

2. to dance

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stretch one's legs

to walk, esp. after sitting a long time

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take to one's legs

to run away

legless

adj.