I. ˈleg also ˈlāg noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse leggr
Date: 14th century
1. : a limb of an animal used especially for supporting the body and for walking: as
a.
(1) : one of the paired vertebrate limbs that in bipeds extend from the top of the thigh to the foot
(2) : the part of such a limb between the knee and foot
b. : the back half of a hindquarter of a meat animal
c. : one of the rather generalized segmental appendages of an arthropod used in walking and crawling
2.
a. : a pole or bar serving as a support or prop
the leg s of a tripod
b. : a branch of a forked or jointed object
the leg s of a compass
3.
a. : the part of an article of clothing that covers the leg
b. : the part of the upper (as of a boot) that extends above the ankle
4. : obeisance , bow — used chiefly in the phrase to make a leg
5. : a side of a right triangle that is not the hypotenuse ; also : a side of an isosceles triangle that is not the base
6.
a. : the course and distance sailed by a boat on a single tack
b. : a portion of a trip : stage
c. : one section of a relay race
d. : one of several events or games necessary to be won to decide a competition
won the first two leg s of horse racing's Triple Crown
7. : a branch or part of an object or system
8. plural : long-term appeal or interest
a news story with leg s
• leg·less -ləs adjective
•
- a leg to stand on
- on one's last legs
II. intransitive verb
( legged ; leg·ging )
Date: 1601
: to use the legs in walking ; especially : run
III. abbreviation
1. legal
2. legato
3. legislative; legislature