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[leg] /lɛg/

noun
1.
either of the two lower limbs of a biped, as a human being, or any of the paired limbs of an animal, arthropod, etc., that support and move the body.
2.
Anatomy. the lower limb of a human being from the knee to the ankle.
3.
something resembling or suggesting a leg in use, position, or appearance.
4.
the part of a garment that covers the leg:
the leg of a stocking; trouser leg.
5.
one of usually several, relatively tall, slender supports for a piece of furniture.
6.
one of the sides of a forked object, as of a compass or pair of dividers.
7.
one of the sides of a triangle other than the base or hypotenuse.
8.
a timber, bar, or the like, serving to prop or shore up a structure.
9.
one of the flanges of an angle iron.
10.
one of the distinct sections of any course:
the last leg of a trip.
11.
Nautical.

12.
Sports.

13.
legs, (in wine tasting) the rivulets of wine that slowly descend along the inside of a glass after the wine has been swirled, sometimes regarded as an indication that the wine is full-bodied.
14.
Cricket.

15.
Electricity. a component or branch of a circuit, network, antenna, etc.
16.
Radio and Television. a connecting link between stations in a network, as the microwave relays used in transmitting a show from one geographical area to another.
17.
2 (def 1).
verb (used with object), legged, legging.
18.
to move or propel (a boat) with the legs:
They legged the boat through the tunnel.
Verb phrases
19.
leg up, to help (someone) to mount a horse.
Idioms
20.
leg it, Informal. to walk rapidly or run:
We’d better leg it or we’ll be late for class.
21.
leg up,

22.
not have a leg to stand on, to lack a valid or logical basis for one’s argument or attitude:
Without evidence, the prosecutor doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
23.
on one’s / its last legs, just short of exhaustion, breakdown, failure, etc.:
The aristocracy was on its last legs.
24.
pull someone’s leg,

25.
shake a leg, Informal.

26.
stretch one’s legs, to take a walk; get some needed exercise after prolonged sitting:
He got up during the intermission to stretch his legs.
/lɛɡ/
noun
1.

2.
any similar or analogous structure in animals that is used for locomotion or support
3.
this part of an animal, esp the thigh, used for food: leg of lamb
4.
something similar to a leg in appearance or function, such as one of the four supporting members of a chair
5.
a branch, limb, or part of a forked or jointed object
6.
the part of a garment that covers the leg
7.
a section or part of a journey or course
8.
a single stage, lap, length, etc, in a relay race
9.
either one of two races on which a cumulative bet has been placed
10.
either the opposite or adjacent side of a right-angled triangle
11.
(nautical)

12.
one of a series of games, matches, or parts of games
13.
(cricket)

14.
give someone a leg up

15.
(informal) have legs, to be successful or show the potential to succeed
16.
not have a leg to stand on, to have no reasonable or logical basis for an opinion or argument
17.
on its last legs, worn out; exhausted
18.
(informal) pull someone’s leg, to tease, fool, or make fun of someone
19.
(informal) shake a leg

20.
(informal) show a leg, to get up in the morning
21.
stretch one’s legs, See stretch (sense 17)
verb legs, legging, legged
22.
(transitive) (obsolete) to propel (a canal boat) through a tunnel by lying on one’s back and walking one’s feet along the tunnel roof
23.
(informal) leg it, to walk, run, or hurry
n.

late 13c., from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse leggr “leg, bone of the arm or leg,” from Proto-Germanic *lagjaz, with no certain ulterior connections, perhaps from a PIE root meaning “to bend” [Buck]. Cf. German Bein “leg,” in Old High German “bone, leg.” Replaced Old English shank. Of furniture supports from 1670s. The meaning “a part or stage of a journey or race” (1920) is from earlier sailing sense of “a run made on a single tack” (1867), which was usually qualified as long leg, short leg, etc. Slang phrase shake a leg “dance” is attested from 1881. To be on (one’s) last legs “at the end of one’s life” is from 1590s.
v.

“to use the legs; walk or run,” c.1500 (from the beginning usually with it); from leg (n.).

leg (lěg)
n.

adjective

[the first dated form is leaden-footed]

noun

verb

(also leg it) To go; travel: I was legging down the line (1601+)

Related Terms

an arm and a leg, bootleg, give someone leg, have a leg up on someone or something, peg leg, pull someone’s leg, shake a leg, shake a wicked calf, tangle-foot
In addition to the idiom beginning with
leg