medicinal leech

noun

1. a bloodsucking leech, Hirudo medicinalis, of Europe, introduced into the northeastern United States, usually green with brown stripes, up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) long: once used by physicians to bleed patients.

medicinal leech

noun

1. a large European freshwater leech, Hirudo medicinalis, formerly used in medical bloodletting

Word History and Origins

Origin of medicinal leech¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Its close resemblance to the medicinal leech caused the mistake to be overlooked until too late.

From Project Gutenberg

The medicinal leech, was, however, once pretty common in the lakes and pools of the north of England.

From Project Gutenberg

The eyes are ranged as in the common medicinal leech of Europe; the four anterior ones rather larger than the others.

From Project Gutenberg

The same result has followed from keeping together different varieties of the medicinal leech.

From Project Gutenberg

A common European species of leech much used for this purpose is known as the "medicinal leech."

From Project Gutenberg