leg

[leg]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR leg ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

Radio and Television. a connecting link between stations in a network, as the microwave relays used in transmitting a show from one geographical area to another.

bride²(def 1).

verb (used with object), legged, leg·ging.

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; 1915–20 for def 10; Middle English < Old Norse leggr

Related formsleg·less, adjectiveleg·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for legs

limb, pole, part, lap, stage, stump, shank, column, segment, support, stake, prop, member, stretch, portion, pile, upright, post, brace, section

Examples from the Web for legs

Contemporary Examples of legs

Sprawled on chaise lounges with their knees high in the air and their legs spread wide.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’
Asawin Suebsaeng
January 7, 2015
Wrapees was the term marines used for the Japanese because they had wrapping round their legs.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile
Robert Ward
January 3, 2015
After tightening her collar, Stella assumed slave posture: on her knees, legs slightly spread, palm resting face-up on her thighs.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau
Ian Frisch
December 20, 2014
As I forced my exhausted body to exercise, I yelled at my legs like a drill sergeant, demanding five more minutes or one more set.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder
Carrie Arnold
December 20, 2014
Legs McNeil, of Punk magazine fame, once called him “cute” and “charming.”
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings
Melissa Leon
December 15, 2014

Historical Examples of legs

He sat down in a chair, and stretched out his legs, with an air of being at home.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
We dined on frogs' legs and Vouvray, and then went to see the Revue at the Marigny.
Ballads of a Bohemian
Robert W. Service
If he sat down his legs were gathered, and he seemed about to stand up.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
The table serving as washstand stood securely on its four legs.
The Roof of France
Matilda Betham-Edwards
As he clapped his legs to the horse's back he stuck his knife into the Potawatami.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin

British Dictionary definitions for legs

leg

noun

either of the two lower limbs, including the bones and fleshy covering of the femur, tibia, fibula, and patella
(as modifier)leg guard; leg rest Related adjective: crural

any similar or analogous structure in animals that is used for locomotion or support

this part of an animal, esp the thigh, used for foodleg of lamb

something similar to a leg in appearance or function, such as one of the four supporting members of a chair

a branch, limb, or part of a forked or jointed object

the part of a garment that covers the leg

a section or part of a journey or course

a single stage, lap, length, etc, in a relay race

either one of two races on which a cumulative bet has been placed

either the opposite or adjacent side of a right-angled triangle

nautical

the distance travelled without tacking
(in yacht racing) the course between any two marks

one of a series of games, matches, or parts of games

cricket

the side of the field to the left of a right-handed batsman as he faces the bowler
(as modifier)a leg slip; leg stump

give someone a leg up

to help someone to climb an obstacle by pushing upwards
to help someone to advance

have legs informal to be successful or show the potential to succeed

not have a leg to stand on to have no reasonable or logical basis for an opinion or argument

on its last legs worn out; exhausted

pull someone's leg informal to tease, fool, or make fun of someone

shake a leg informal

to hurry up: usually used in the imperative
to dance

show a leg informal to get up in the morning

stretch one's legs See stretch (def. 17)

verb legs, legging or legged

(tr) obsolete to propel (a canal boat) through a tunnel by lying on one's back and walking one's feet along the tunnel roof

leg it informal to walk, run, or hurry

Derived Formsleglike, adjective

Word Origin for leg

C13: from Old Norse leggr, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for legs

leg

"to use the legs; walk or run," c.1500 (from the beginning usually with it); from leg (n.).

leg

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.

legs in Medicine