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.
Phrases and idioms:
feel (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.
Derivatives:
legged adj. (also in comb.). legger n.
Etymology: ME f. ON leggr f. Gmc