Part 637

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous genera and species of annulose worms, belonging to the order Hirudinea, or Bdelloidea, esp. those species used in medicine, as Hirudo medicinalis of Europe, and allied species.

In the mouth of bloodsucking leeches are three convergent, serrated jaws, moved by strong muscles. By the motion of these jaws a stellate incision is made in the skin, through which the leech sucks blood till it is gorged, and then drops off. The stomach has large pouches on each side to hold the blood. The common large bloodsucking leech of America (Macrobdella decora) is dark olive above, and red below, with black spots. Many kinds of leeches are parasitic on fishes; others feed upon worms and mollusks, and have no jaws for drawing blood. See Bdelloidea. Hirudinea, and Clepsine.

3. (Surg.) A glass tube of peculiar construction, adapted for drawing blood from a scarified part by means of a vacuum.

Horse leech, a less powerful European leech (Hæmopis vorax), commonly attacking the membrane that lines the inside of the mouth and nostrils of animals that drink at pools where it lives.

Leech, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leeched (lcht); p. pr. & vb. n. Leeching.] 1. To treat as a surgeon; to doctor; as, to leech wounds. [Archaic]

2. To bleed by the use of leeches.

Leech"craft` (-krft`), n. The art of healing; skill of a physician. [Archaic] Chaucer.

{ Leed, Leede (ld) }, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A caldron; a copper kettle. [Obs.] "A furnace of a leed." Chaucer.

Leef (lf), a. & adv. See Lief. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Leek (lk), n. [AS. leác; akin to D. look, G. lauch, OHG. louh, Icel. laukr, Sw. lök, Dan lög. Cf. Garlic.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Allium (A. Porrum), having broadly linear succulent leaves rising from a loose oblong cylindrical bulb. The flavor is stronger than that of the common onion.

Wild leek , in America, a plant (Allium tricoccum) with a cluster of ovoid bulbs and large oblong elliptical leaves.

Leeme (lm), v. & n. See Leme. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Leep (lp), obs. strong imp. of Leap. Leaped.

Leer (lr), v. t. To learn. [Obs.] See Lere, to learn.

Leer, a. [OE. lere; akin to G. leer, OHG. & OS. lri.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Empty; destitute; wanting; as: (a) Empty of contents. "A leer stomach." Gifford. (b) Destitute of a rider; and hence, led, not ridden; as, a leer horse. B. Jonson. (c) Wanting sense or seriousness; trifling; trivolous; as, leer words.

Leer, n. An oven in which glassware is annealed.

Leer, n. [OE. lere cheek, face, look, AS. hleór cheek, face; akin to OS. hlear, hlior, OD. lier, Icel. hlr.] 1. The cheek. [Obs.] Holinshed.

2. Complexion; aspect; appearance. [Obs.]

A Rosalind of a better leer than you.

Shak.

3. A distorted expression of the face, or an indirect glance of the eye, conveying a sinister or immodest suggestion.

With jealous leer malign Eyed them askance.

Milton.

She gives the leer of invitation.

Shak.

Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer.

Pope.

Leer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leered (lrd); p. pr. & vb. n. Leering.] To look with a leer; to look askance with a suggestive expression, as of hatred, contempt, lust, etc.; to cast a sidelong lustful or malign look.