• LEA
n. 1483 N. Eng. dial. – a scythe
• LEACH
n. 1. c1420 obs. – a slice, as of meat, etc.; a strip
n. 2. 1721 Eng. dial. obs. – hard work, great fatigue
n. 3. Bk1902 Eng. dial. a strand of a rope
vb. 1. c888 obs. rare – to water, to wet
vb. 2. a1400 obs. exc. arch. – to cut meat, etc. in slices; to slice
vb. 3. 1614 obs. – to soften, to melt
vb. 4. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to cheat, to swindle
• LEACHED
adj. 1461-83 obs. – sliced; fried in slices
• LEACHER
n. 12C – a lewd man; a habitual fornicator; a lecher
vb. Bk1903 sl. – to possess carnally
• LEAD
n. 1. a1300 obs. rare – leading, direction, guidance
n. 2. 1590 – a path; a garden path; a trail; an alley
n. 3. 1895 Eng. dial. – a haunt, a resort
n. 4. 1899 Sc. – the weight at the end of a clock’s pendulum
n. 5. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – the main shoot of a young tree
n. 6 1908 Sc. – a long, slow swell in the sea, betokening bad weather
n. 7. 1913 Amer. dial. – mountain spur; a steep ridge
n. 8. 20C sl. – the first domino played in a hand
vb. 1. c1200 obs. – to conduct affairs; to manage, to govern
vb. 2. c1200 obs. – to conduct oneself; to behave, to act
vb. 3. 1377 obs. – to guide or steer a boat; to guide or drive a carriage
vb. 4. 1847 Eng. dial. – to chance, to happen
vb. 5. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to walk arm in arm; said of a young couple when courting
• LEAD A BRIDE TO CHURCH
vb. 1530 – to marry
• LEAD A LIFE LIKE A TOAD UNDER A HARROW
vb. Bk1902 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to suffer from ill-treatment or ill-usage
• LEADANCE
n. 1682 obs. rare – the act of leading; guidance
• LEAD APES IN HELL
vb. 16C Eng. sl. – to die unmarried; to die an old maid
• LEAD BALLOON
n. 1954 US sl. – a failure; a flop
• LEAD BY THE EARS
vb. 1884 – to keep in abject dependence
• LEAD BY THE NOSE
vb. 1583 – to cause to obey submissively
• LEAD BY THE SLEEVE
vb. c1425 obs. – to cause to obey submissively
• LEAD DOWN THE GARDEN PATH
vb. 1920s sl. – to trick, to deceive deliberately, to tease
• LEADEN TONIC
n. 1882 Amer. West jocular usage – a serious, esp. fatal, bullet wound
• LEADER
n. 1. a1300 obs. – the driver of a vehicle
n. 2. c1440 obs. rare – a plumber
n. 3. 1495 obs. – one who has the charge of animals
n. 4. 1706 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a carter, one who carries goods in a vehicle
n. 5. 1789 Sc. – in curling: the first player on each side in a game
n. 6. 1853 Sc. – a tributary of a stream
n. 7. 1875 Sc. & US – a pipe to conduct water
n. 8. 1890 Sc. & Amer. dial. – a tendon, a ligament, a sinew
n. 9. 1890 Eng. dial. – the main shoot of a plant or tree
n. 10. 1935 Amer. dial. – a blood vessel
• LEADERESS
n. 1599 – a female leader
• LEADERS
n. 1990 Amer. dial. – veins in the leg
• LEAD-FOOT
adj. 1896 – slow and laborious in movement
n. 1. 1938 Amer. sl. – a motor vehicle driver who habitually rives fast
n. 2. 1955 Amer. sl. – a bungling, clumsy person
vb. 1990 Amer. dial. – to drive fast
• LEAD-FOOTED
adj. 1. 1957 Amer. sl. – clumsy, bungling, slow
adj. 2. 1990 Amer. dial. – given to speeding
• LEADHEAD
n. 1952 Amer. sl. – a blockhead, an idiot
• LEADING
n. c1375 obs. – government, rule
• LEADING ARTICLE
n. 19C Brit. sl. – the female genitals
• LEADING-STRINGS
n. 1677 – strings with which children used to be guided and supported when learning to walk
• LEAD-MASTER
n. 1791 Sc. – a leader, a commander
• LEAD NIGGER
n. 1966 Amer. sl. – an important, often self-important person
• LEAD ONE A CHASE
vb. 1861 – to give a pursuer trouble by one’s speed or circuitous course
• LEAD ONE A DANCE
vb. 1607 – to put to the trouble of hurrying from place to place; hence, to compel to go through a course of irksome action
• LEAD PIECE
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a silver dollar
• LEAD PILL
n. 1850 Amer. jocular usage – a bullet
• LEAD-PIPE CINCH
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a gullible person; a dupe
• LEAD PLUM
n. 1922 Amer. West jocular usage – a bullet
• LEAD POISONED
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – wounded by a bullet
• LEAD POISONING
n. 1883 Amer. jocular usage – a serious, esp. fatal, bullet wound
• LEAD-PUSHER
n. 1922 US West. sl. – a pistol
• LEAD SANDWICH
n. 1978 US jocular usage – a bullet
• LEADSMAN
n. c1510 obs. – a guide
• LEAD SOMEONE A DANCE
vb. a1545 – to cause that person excessive worry, effort, etc.
• LEAD-SPITTER
n. 1927 Amer. sl. – a firearm
• LEAD-SWINGER
n. 1918 Brit. sl. – a malingerer or shirker
• LEAD THE DANCE
vb. c1325 – to take the lead in any course of action
• LEAD THE MOON
vb. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – of the evening star: to be in front of or on the right-hand side of the moon; usually a sign of bad weather
• LEAD TO THE ALTAR
vb. 1812 – to marry
• LEAD TOWEL
n. 1. M18 sl. – a pistol
n. 2. E19 sl. – a bullet
• LEAD UP THE GARDEN PATH
vb. 1920s sl. – to trick, to deceive deliberately, to tease
• LEAD WASHER
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a silver dollar
• LEAD WITH ONE’S CHIN
vb. 1922 Amer. sl. – in boxing: to clumsily allow oneself to be knocked down by a blow to the chin; hence, to act foolishly in a way that encourages one’s own defeat; to act incautiously; to act without restraint
• LEAF
n. 1. 1750 Eng. dial. – the inner layer of fat of a pig or of poultry
n. 2. 1767 chiefly Anglo-Irish – the brim of a hat
n. 3. 1846 military sl. – leave of absence
n. 4. 1900 Sc. – one of the segments of an orange
n. 5. 1910s US drug culture sl. – crude opium
n. 6. 1920s US sl. – a $1000 bill
n. 7. 1929 Amer. sl. – a dollar bill; a dollar
n. 8. 1929 Amer. sl. – a one-hundred-dollar bill; one hundred dollars
n. 9. 1930s sl. – drugs in general
n. 10. 1942 US drug culture sl. – cocaine
n. 11. 1961 Amer. sl. – marijuana
• THE LEAF
n. M20 US drug culture sl. – cocaine
• LEAF-FALL
n. 1840 poetic usage – the fall of the leaf, autumn
• LEAF-FAT
n. 1750 Eng. dial. – the inner layer of fat of a pig or of poultry
• LEAF FROG
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a tree frog
• LEAFFUL
adj. c950 obs. – faithful, believing
• LEAF-GUM
n. 1. 1910s US drug culture sl. – crude opium
n. 2. E20 US criminals’ sl. – narcotics
• LEAFLESS
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – undressed; nude
• LEAFLESS TREE
n. 1830 sl. – the gallows
• LEAFLET
n. 1787 – a small leaf; a young leaf
• LEAF MOVER
n. 1986 Amer. dial. – a sudden heavy rain
• LEAF OF THE OLD AUTHOR
n. 19C sl. – a drink, esp. of brandy
• LEAF PEEPER
n. c1965 Amer. dial. – in New England: a tourist who comes to view autumn foliage
• LEAF-TURNER
n. 1672 jocular usage, obs. – a reader of a book
• LEAGUE
vb. 1. 1623 obs. rare – to bequeath
vb. 2. c1645 obs. – to bind, to connect, to join
vb. 3. 1826 Sc. – to walk quickly, to hurry off
• LEAGUEIST
n. 1762 rare – a member of a league
• LEAGUER
n. 1. 1577 – a military camp, esp. one engaged in a siege; an investing force
n. 2. 1598 – a military investment, a siege
vb. 1. 1596 obs. rare – to ‘lie’, to lodge
vb. 2. 1629 obs. – to set one’s leaguer, to encamp
vb. 3. 1715-20 – to besiege, to beleaguer
• LEAGUER-LADY
n. 1702 obs. – a woman attached to a camp; a soldier’s wife; used in contempt
• LEAGUER-LASS
n. 1822 Sc. – a woman attached to a camp
• LEAGUER-LAUNDRESS
n. 1629 obs. – a woman attached to a camp
• LEAK
n. 1. 16C colloq. – urination; an act of urination
n. 2. E18 Brit. sl. – the female genitals
n. 3. 1899 Eng. dial. – a gutter; an outlet ,a ditch
n. 4. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a drop; a small quantity
vb. 1. 1596 obs. – to ‘make water’; to urinate
vb. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to rain
• LEAKERY
n. 20C Aust. sl. – a privy or a latrine; a male urinal
• LEAK FINDER
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a very heavy rain
• LEAK-HOUSE
n. 20C Aust. sl. – a privy or a latrine; a male urinal
• LEAKING
adj. 1. c1420 obs. – of weather: showery
adj. 2. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – very wet, soaked, dripping
• LEAKING-WET
adj. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – very wet, soaked, dripping
• LEAKNESS
n. 1508 obs. – leakiness
• LEAK ONE’S LIZARD
vb. 1970s Amer. sl. – of a male: to urinate
• LEAKY
adj. 1692 – not reticent; blabbing; of memory: not retentive
• LEAKY PUMP
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a bad heart
• LEAKY ROAD
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a small branch railroad, or one that gives poor service
• LEAKY ROOF
n. 1913 Amer. dial. – a small branch railroad
• LEAL
adj. 1. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – loyal, faithful, honest, true, upright, sincere
adj. 2. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – true, genuine, real, actual, exact, accurate
adj. 3. a1300 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – of a blow or shot: well-aimed, severe, hitting the mark
adj. 4. c1350 obs. – lawful
adj. 5. c1350 obs. – just, fair
adj. 6. 1745 Sc. – of a woman: chaste, pure, unsullied
adv. 1. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. – loyally, faithfully
adv. 2. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. – honestly, lawfully
adv. 3. c1400 obs. exc. Sc. – truly, exactly, accurately; perfectly, thoroughly
n. B1900 Sc. – truth
vb. c1350 obs. rare – to legalize, to authorize
• LEAL-COME
adj. 1637 obs. exc. Sc. – honestly come by
• LEALDOM
n. 1894 Sc. – loyalty, loyal adherents or subjects
• LEAL-GOOD
adj. 1847 Sc. – truly good
• LEAL-HEARTED
adj. 1728 Sc. – faithful, sincere, loyal-hearted
• LEALLIE; LEALLY
adv. 1. a1300 – loyally, faithfully, truly
adv. 2. c1350 obs. – truly, really, actually
• LEAL-LOVED
adj. 1845 Sc. – loyally loved well-loved
• LEALOW
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a butterfly
• LEALMAN
n. 1871 Sc. – a loyal or faithful subject; a liegeman
• LEALNESS
n. 1882 rare – faithfulness, loyalty
• LEALTY
n. 1. 1548 obs. rare – laity
n. 2. 1860 obs. exc. arch. – faithfulness, loyalty
• LEAM
n. 1. c1175 obs. exc. Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – light, flame; a flash, ray, or gleam of light; brightness, gleam
n. 2. 1814 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a leash for a dog
n. 3. 1854 Eng. dial. – the husk of a nut
vb. 1. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to shine, to gleam; to light up
vb. 2. 1788 Eng. dial. – to free nuts from their husks
• LEAMER
n. 1. c1440 obs. rare – one that flashes or radiates light
n. 2. 1832 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a nut fully ripe
• LEAMING
adj. 1. a1300 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – gleaming, flashing, shining
adj. 2. 1824 Sc. – of nuts: ripe, separating easily from the husk
n. 1387 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – shining, gleaming, flashing of light
• LEAN
n. 1. c1000 obs. – reward, recompense
n. 2. 1610 obs. – something to lean on, a support
n. 3. 1773 Sc. – a resting-place, a seat
vb. 1. c897 obs. – to become lean; to make lean
vb. 2. c950 obs. exc. Sc. – to recline, to lie down, to rest
vb. 3. 1725 Sc. obs. – to cease, to desist, to pause
vb. 4. 1908 Amer. dial. – of the sun: to descend
vb. 5. 1910s sl., orig. US – to beat up, to strike
• LEAN AND FAT
n. 1857 US rhyming sl. – a hat
• LEAN AND LINGER
n. 1929 US rhyming sl. – a finger
• LEAN AND LURCH
n. 1992 UK rhyming sl. – a church
• LEAN AS A RAKE
adj. c1386 – very lean, thin
• LEAN AS A SHOTTEN HERRING
adj. 1885 Amer. dial. – very thin, emaciated
• LEAN-AWAY
n. 1889 – one who is tipsy; a drunkard → sl. (Bk.)
• LEAN BESIDE THE CUSHION
vb. 1576 obs. – to miss the point; to beside the mark; to be irrelevant
• LEANER
n. 1. 1960s Amer. sl. – a freeloader
n. 2. 1981 US sl. – in sports: a hanger-on who gives unwanted advice or makes obnoxious comments
n. 3. 1995 NZ sl. – a shelf or high table in a bar provided for standing drinkers
• LEAN FOR HOME
vb. 1833 Amer. dial. – to depart hurriedly
• LEANING
n. 1892 Eng. dial. – a rope
• LEANING FAT
n. 1928 US rhyming sl. – a hat
• LEANING-STOCK
n. 1583 – a support (lit. and fig.)
• LEAN INTO
vb. 20C Irish sl. – to pressurize, to threaten
• LEANISH
adj. 1647 rare – somewhat lean
• LEAN-KINDED
adj. 1601 obs. – belonging to the lean kind
• LEAN LICKING OF THIBLES
phr. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – poverty, penury, a state verging on starvation
• LEAN-OFF
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a lean-to
• LEAN ON
vb. 1. 1911 sl., orig. US – to beat up, to strike; to physically assault
vb. 2. 1920s sl. – to depend on
vb. 3. 1920s sl., orig. US – to pressurize, to persuade, possibly with violence or threats of violence, to threaten with force
vb. 4. 1960s African-American sl. – to disparage or ridicule
• LEAN ON ONE’S OWN BREAKFAST
vb. 1. 1910 Amer. dial. – to sit up without leaning on another
vb. 2. 1942 Amer. dial. – to rely or depend on oneself
• LEAN ON THE CUSHION
vb. a1618 obs. – ? to assume the attitude or position of a preacher
• LEAN OVER BACKWARDS
vb. 1925 sl., orig. US – to make one’s maximum effort, orig. with the implication of doing something disadvantageous or distasteful to oneself
• LEAN-TO
n. 1940s sl. – a lodging house, night shelter, or similar refuge for homeless people
• LEAN TOWARDS COOPER’S
vb. 1967 Amer. dial. – to slant, to tilt, to be out of plumb
• LEAN TOWARDS FISHER’S
vb. 1957 Amer. dial. – to slant, to tilt, to be out of plumb
• LEAN TOWARDS JONES’S
vb. 1905 Amer. dial. – to slant, to tilt, to be out of plumb
• LEAN TOWARDS PERKINS’S
vb. 1967 Amer. dial. – to slant, to tilt, to be out of plumb
• LEAN TOWARDS SAWYER’S
vb. 1967 Amer. dial. – to slant, to tilt, to be out of plumb
• LEAN TROT
n. 1970s Aust. sl. – a spell of bad luck or unfortunate experiences
► LEAN-WITTED adj. silly, stupid, foolish; having little sense or shrewdness → 1597
• LEANY
adj. a1400 obs. – lean, thin, scrawny
Back to INDEX L
Back to DICTIONARY
Lexicophilia 