leg

[ leg ]

/ lɛg /

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 for leg

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

OTHER WORDS FROM leg

leg·less, adjective leg·like, adjective

Words nearby leg

leftist, leftover, leftward, leftwards, lefty, leg, leg art, leg before wicket, leg break, leg bye, leg drop

British Dictionary definitions for on one's last legs

leg

/ (lɛɡ) /

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 food leg 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 forms of leg

leglike, adjective

Word Origin for leg

C13: from Old Norse leggr, of obscure origin

Medical definitions for on one's last legs

leg

[ lĕg ]

n.

One of the two lower limbs of the human body, especially the part between the knee and the foot.

A supporting part resembling a leg in shape or function.

Idioms and Phrases with on one's last legs (1 of 2)

on one's last legs

Extremely tired, close to collapsing, as in We've been cleaning house all day and I'm on my last legs. This hyperbolic expression originally meant “close to dying,” and in John Ray's 1678 proverb collection it was transferred to being bankrupt. Soon afterward it was applied to the end of one's resources, physical or otherwise. It is sometimes applied to things, as in That furnace is on its last legs.

Idioms and Phrases with on one's last legs (2 of 2)

leg

In addition to the idiom beginning with leg

leg up, a

also see:

arm and a leg
break a leg
on one's last legs
pull someone's leg
shake a leg
stretch one's legs
tail between one's legs
without a leg to stand on

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

leg

noun

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

Verb Phrases

Idioms for leg

Origin of leg

OTHER WORDS FROM leg

Words nearby leg

British Dictionary definitions for on one's last legs

noun

verb legs, legging or legged

Derived forms of leg

Word Origin for leg

Medical definitions for on one's last legs

n.

Idioms and Phrases with on one's last legs (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with on one's last legs (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

leg

noun

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

Verb Phrases

Idioms for leg

Origin of leg

OTHER WORDS FROM leg

Words nearby leg

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for on one's last legs

noun

verb legs, legging or legged

Derived forms of leg

Word Origin for leg

Medical definitions for on one's last legs

n.

Idioms and Phrases with on one's last legs (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with on one's last legs (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for on one's last legs