leash

American  

[leesh] / liʃ /

noun

1. a chain, strap, etc., for controlling or leading a dog or other animal; lead.

2. check; curb; restraint: a tight leash on one's subordinates.

   to keep one's temper in leash;

   a tight leash on one's subordinates.

3. Hunting. a brace and a half, as of foxes or hounds.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to secure, control, or restrain by or as if by a leash.

   to leash water power for industrial use.

2. to bind together by or as if by a leash; connect; link; associate.

leash British  

/ liːʃ /

noun

1. a line or rope used to walk or control a dog or other animal; lead

2. something resembling this in function

   he kept a tight leash on his emotions

3. hunting three of the same kind of animal, usually hounds, foxes, or hares

4. eagerly impatient to begin something

---

verb

1. (tr) to control or secure by or as if by a leash

Etymology

Origin of leash

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English lesh, variant of lece, lese, from Old French laisse; lease ¹

Example Sentences

In the aftermath of the housing crisis, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie and Freddie, sought to keep them on a tighter leash, at least for a time.

From The Wall Street Journal

A young woman with two golden retrievers on tangled leashes gives us a small wave as she passes our bench.

From Literature

Orion pulled on his leash and tried to run out of Glory’s hand.

From Literature

As soon as he reached the lake, Jonathan took the leash off Moose.

From Literature

The party’s longer leash for some creative industries is helping to boost cultural output that had been stifled by regulatory scrutiny in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cord
• rope
• strap
• tether