horseleech

American  

[hawrs-leech] / ˈhɔrsˌlitʃ /

noun

1. a large leech, as Haemopis marmoratis, that infests the mouth and nasal passages of horses.

---

horseleech British  

/ ˈhɔːsˌliːtʃ /

noun

1. any of several large carnivorous freshwater leeches of the genus Haemopis, esp H. sanguisuga

2. an archaic name for a veterinary surgeon

---

Etymology

Origin of horseleech

First recorded in 1400–50, horseleech is from the late Middle English word horsleych. See horse, leech ¹

Example Sentences

Morales had, however, made his horseleech nature tolerably plain already, and Appleby decided to stand firm.

From Project Gutenberg

The people, like Oliver, "asked for more;" ungrateful people! not content with Father Glynn at the viceroy's table, and the Bishop of "Mesopotamia" in the council, they cried, like the horseleech's daughters, "Give! give!"

From Project Gutenberg

They are always hanging upon us like an incubus; and yet like Solomon's daughters of the horseleech, are never satisfied.

From Project Gutenberg

Each incoming administration is bedeviled by hordes of applicants, as greedy as the daughters of the horseleech.

From Project Gutenberg

The people, like Oliver, “asked for more;” ungrateful people! not content with Father Glynn at the viceroy’s table, and the Bishop of “Mesopotamia” in the council, they cried, like the horseleech’s daughters, “Give! give!”

From Project Gutenberg