either of the two lower limbs of a biped, as a human being, or any of the paired limbs of an animal, arthropod, etc., that support and move the body.
Anatomy. the lower limb of a human being from the knee to the ankle.
something resembling or suggesting a leg in use, position, or appearance.
the part of a garment that covers the leg: the leg of a stocking; trouser leg.
one of usually several, relatively tall, slender supports for a piece of furniture.
one of the sides of a forked object, as of a compass or pair of dividers.
one of the sides of a triangle other than the base or hypotenuse.
a timber, bar, or the like, serving to prop or shore up a structure.
one of the flanges of an angle iron.
one of the distinct sections of any course: the last leg of a trip.
Nautical.
one of the series of straight runs that make up the zigzag course of a sailing ship.
one straight or nearly straight part of a multiple-sided course in a sailing race.
Sports.
one of a designated number of contests that must be successfully completed in order to determine the winner.
one of the stretches or sections of a relay race.
legs,(in wine tasting) the rivulets of wine that slowly descend along the inside of a glass after the wine has been swirled, sometimes regarded as an indication that the wine is full-bodied.
Cricket.
the part of the field to the left of and behind the batsman as he faces the bowler or to the right of and behind him if he is left-handed.
the fielder playing this part of the field.
the position of this fielder.
Electricity. a component or branch of a circuit, network, antenna, etc.
Radioand Television. a connecting link between stations in a network, as the microwave relays used in transmitting a show from one geographical area to another.
to move or propel (a boat) with the legs: They legged the boat through the tunnel.
Verb Phrases
leg up, to help (someone) to mount a horse.
Idioms
leg it, Informal. to walk rapidly or run: We'd better leg it or we'll be late for class.
leg up,
a means of help or encouragement; assist; boost: Studying the material with a tutor will give you a leg up on passing the exam.
advantage; edge.
not have a leg to stand on, to lack a valid or logical basis for one's argument or attitude: Without evidence, the prosecutor doesn't have a leg to stand on.
on one's/its last legs, just short of exhaustion, breakdown, failure, etc.: The aristocracy was on its last legs.
pull someone's leg,
to make fun of someone; tease.
to deceive someone; trick someone.
shake a leg, Informal.
to hurry up.
Older Use.to dance.
stretch one's legs, to take a walk; get some needed exercise after prolonged sitting: He got up during the intermission to stretch his legs.
Origin of leg
1225–75;1915–20for def 10; Middle English < Old Norseleggr
Related formsleg·less, adjectiveleg·like, adjective
late 13c., from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse leggr "leg, bone of the arm or leg," from Proto-Germanic *lagjaz, with no certain ulterior connections, perhaps from a PIE root meaning "to bend" [Buck]. Cf. German Bein "leg," in Old High German "bone, leg." Replaced Old English shank. Of furniture supports from 1670s. The meaning "a part or stage of a journey or race" (1920) is from earlier sailing sense of "a run made on a single tack" (1867), which was usually qualified as long leg, short leg, etc. Slang phrase shake a leg "dance" is attested from 1881. To be on (one's) last legs "at the end of one's life" is from 1590s.
v.
"to use the legs; walk or run," c.1500 (from the beginning usually with it); from leg (n.).
