Part 639

Ld. Lytton.

2. Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who are in the opposition; the advanced republicans and extreme radicals. They have their seats at the left-hand side of the presiding officer. See Center, and Right.

Left"-hand` (lft"hnd`), a. Situated on the left; nearer the left hand than the right; as, the left-hand side; the left-hand road.

Left-hand rope, rope laid up and twisted over from right to left, or against the sun; -- called also water- laid rope.

Left"-hand`ed, a. 1. Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.

2. Clumsy; awkward; unlucky; insincere; sinister; malicious; as, a left-handed compliment.

The commendations of this people are not always left-handed and detractive.

Landor.

3. Having a direction contrary to that of the hands of a watch when seen in front; -- said of a twist, a rotary motion, etc., looked at from a given direction.

Left-handed marriage, a morganatic marriage. See Morganatic. -- Left-handed screw, a screw constructed to advance away from the observer, when turned, as in a nut, with a left-handed rotation. An ordinary wood screw is right-handed.

{ Left"-hand`ed*ness, Left"-hand`i*ness (- *ns), } n. The state or quality of being left-handed; awkwardness.

An awkward address, ungraceful attitudes and actions, and a certain left-handiness (if I may use the expression) proclaim low education.

Chesterfield.

Left"-off` (-f`; 115), a. Laid aside; cast-off.

Left"ward (-wrd), adv. Toward or on the left side.

Rightward and leftward rise the rocks.

Southey.

Le"ful (l"fl), a. See Leveful. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Leg (lg), n. [Icel. leggr; akin to Dan. læg calf of the leg, Sw. lägg.] 1. A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the body, and in running, climbing, and swimming; esp., that part of the limb between the knee and foot.

2. That which resembles a leg in form or use; especially, any long and slender support on which any object rests; as, the leg of a table; the leg of a pair of compasses or dividers.

3. The part of any article of clothing which covers the leg; as, the leg of a stocking or of a pair of trousers.

4. A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a leg; probably from drawing the leg backward in bowing. [Obs.]

He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks for a favor he never received.

Fuller.

5. A disreputable sporting character; a blackleg. [Slang, Eng.]

6. (Naut.) The course and distance made by a vessel on one tack or between tacks.

7. (Steam Boiler) An extension of the boiler downward, in the form of a narrow space between vertical plates, sometimes nearly surrounding the furnace and ash pit, and serving to support the boiler; -- called also water leg.

8. (Grain Elevator) The case containing the lower part of the belt which carries the buckets.