I. ˈlēsh noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English lees, lese, leshe, from Old French laisse, from laissier to let loose — more at lease
1.
a.
(1) : a thong, cord, or chain attached to an animal's collar or harness or to a hawk's jess and held in the hand for the purpose of leading, checking, or controlling the bird or animal or fastened to an object to secure or tether it
a puppy on a leash
— often used in the phrase in leash or on leash ; called also lead
(2) : such an article used for leading or restraining a small child (as on a walk)
b. : control , restraint , check
keep the reader under a guiding leash — Robert Humphrey
— usually used in the phrase in leash
the plan had been devised to keep floods in leash — American Guide Series: Texas
the same quivering emotion held in tight leash — R.C.Carpenter
2.
a. : a set of three animals (as greyhounds, foxes, bucks, or hares) : a brace and a half
a leash of Russian wolfhounds — National Geographic
b. : any set of three individuals
a leash of stalwart sons — Green Peyton
3.
a. : lash 4
b. : lease V 1
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
1. : to tie together or hold with a leash
2. : control , restrain
exhausted by the effort of keeping his emotions leashed — W.B.Marsh