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.

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verb (used with object)

leashes, present (3rd person singular) leashed, past participle, past leashing present participle

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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has leashed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have leashed
  perfect
• am leashing
  progressive 1st person singular
• leashes
  singular 3rd person
• leashing
  participle
• has been leashing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is leashing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are leashing
  progressive
• have been leashing
  perfect progressive

Past

• had leashed
  perfect
• was leashing
  progressive singular
• leashed
  simple
• had been leashing
  perfect progressive
• were leashing
  progressive plural
• leashed
  participle

Future

• will leash
  simple
• will have leashed
  perfect
• will be leashing
  progressive
• will have been leashing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of leash

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

Explanation

Dog owners who live in the city need a leash, a rope or cord attached to the dog's collar that helps his owner keep him safe and restrained. When you walk a dog, you hold his leash to guide him along the sidewalk and keep him from chasing squirrels into busy streets. The word leash is also useful for describing a figurative kind of guide or restraint: "The teachers at that school keep their students on a short leash when they take field trips downtown." The students aren't on actual leashes, but they are constrained. Leash comes from the Old French word laissier, or "loose."

Example Sentences

Among the revisions: new bans on jaywalking, walking pets without a leash and smoking while driving.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

They should also use a leash if their dog is outdoors during mail delivery.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Guarded by elite army commandos, their mascot Aloka -- a stray dog rescued in India -- walked on a leash, drawing bows and clasped hands from devotees lining the route.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

"But at this stage, absolutely off the leash, both of them, as long as there's always this kind of margin between the cars. We are fine."

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Reggie handed Felix a leather leash that matched Freebie’s collar.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Related Words

• cord
• rope
• strap
• tether