medicinal leech

American  

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.

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medicinal leech British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of medicinal leech

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The medicinal leech - once used across Europe for bloodletting treatments - has been found in three ponds near Carrick Shore on the Solway Coast.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2023

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

From Country Walks of a Naturalist with His Children by Houghton, W. (William)

In size the cattle leech of Ceylon is somewhat larger than the medicinal leech of Europe; in colour it is of a uniform brown without bands, unless a rufous margin may be so considered.

From Ceylon; an Account of the Island Physical, Historical, and Topographical with Notices of Its Natural History, Antiquities and Productions, Volume 1 by Tennent, James Emerson, Sir

In size the cattle leech of Ceylon is somewhat larger than the medicinal leech of Europe: in colour it is of a uniform brown without bands, unless a rufous margin may be so considered.

From Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon by Tennent, James Emerson, Sir

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

From The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3 by Poe, Edgar Allan