Dictionary: LEB – LEF

• LEBBER
vb. 1. 1825 Sc. – to bedaub, to beslabber
vb. 2. Bk1902 Sc. – to make a noise with the lips in swallowing a liquid; to let fall a portion of one’s food while swallowing  
 
• LEBBERS
n. 1825 Sc. – droppings of food or drink from the mouth
 
• LEBBET
vb. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to shelter
 
• LEBBIE
n. 1808 Sc. – the flap or skirt of a man’s coat or shirt  
 
• LECANOMANCER
n. 1670 obs. – a diviner by water in a basin
 
• LECANOMANCY
n. 1610 – divination by the inspection of water in a basin  
 
• LECANOMANTIC
n. 1623 obs. – one who practices lecanomancy  
 
• LECH
n. 1. c1205 obs. – a look, glance 
n. 2. 1796 sl. – sexual desire  
n. 3. 1943 colloq. – a lecher
vb. 1911 Brit. & US – to experience sexual desire; to pursue or enjoy sexual matters, esp. illicit sex  
 
• LECHER
adj. c1250 obs. – lecherous, also, base, vile
vb. 1. 1382 obs. – to play the lecher
vb. 2. L16 – to copulate  
 
• LECHERE
n. c1374 rare – a physician  
 
• LECHERER
n. c1380 obs. – a lecher
 
• LECHERHED
n. c1250 obs. – lechery
 
• LECHERLIKE
adv. c1250 obs. – lecherously
 
• LECHERLY
adv. c1400 obs. – lecherously
 
• LECHERNESS
n. c1400 obs. – lechery 
 
• LECHEROUS
adj. 1. c1483 obs. – fond of good living; gluttonous 
adj. 2. 1474 obs. – of food: rich, dainty
 
• LECHERY
n. 1632 obs. – luxurious or inordinate pleasure
 
• LECHNE
vb. c900 obs. – to cure, to heal; to administer medicine 
 
• LECK
n. 1. 1660 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a leak
n. 2. 1660 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a windfall; a legacy
vb. 1. 1825 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to moisten; to water; to sprinkle, esp. clothes before ironing or a floor to lay the dust
vb. 2. 1865 Eng. dial. – to drip, to ooze; to leak
 
• LECKIE
n. 1. 1721 Sc. obs. – a lackey
n. 2. 20C Aust. sl. – an electrician
 
• LECKING-CAN
n. 1862 Eng. dial. – a watering-can
 
• LECKING-TIME
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – showery weather with short intervals of sunshine
 
• LECK-O’-ME
int. 1892 Sc. – alas! woe is me!
 
• LECK OUT
vb. 1878 Eng. dial. – to put out a fire
 
• LECKY
adj. 1. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – leaky
adj. 2. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – showery
 
• LECTION
n. 1. 1563-7 obs. rare – a professional or tutorial lecture
n. 2. 1621 obs. – a lesson to be learnt
n. 3. 1669 obs. rare – the act of reading
n. 4. 1856 Eng. dial. – probability, likelihood
 
• LECTOR
n. 1. 1563-7 – a reader; a ‘reader’ or lecturer in a college or university  
n. 2. 1714 Sc. obs. – a pupil learning to read
 
• LECTORESS
n. 1634 obs. – a female instructor
 
• LECTRESS
n. 1867 nonce word – a female reader
 
• LECTORY
n. 1387 obs. – a reading-place
 
• LECTRICE
n. 1889 – a woman engaged as an attendant or companion to read aloud  
 
• LECTUAL
adj. 1775 rare – confined in bed
 
• LECTURAL
adj. 1657 obs. – of the nature of a lecture
 
• LECTURE
n. 1. 1398 obs. – the act of reading; perusal; also, that which is read or perused
n. 2. 1526 arch. – the act of reading aloud; also, that which is read, a lection or lesson  
 
• LECTURESS
n. 1825 – a female lecturer  
 
• LECTURETTE
n. 1867 – a short lecture  
 
• LECTURIZE
vb. 1643 obs. rare – to deliver lectures; to ‘hold forth’
 
• LED-CAPTAIN
n. 1672 – a hanger-on, a dependant, a parasite  
 
• LEDDEN
n. 1790 Eng. dial. – a noise, a din
 
• LEDDY BODY
n. 1930 Sc. – a ladylike person  
 
• LEDDY-LASS
n. 1879 Sc. – a female child of social rank; one born to be a lady  
 
• LEDE
n. 1. 971 obs. – a people, nation, race; also, persons collectively, people
n. 2. a1300 obs. – a man, person; esp. one of the ‘men’ or subjects of a king or chief; a subject
 
• LEDELESS
adj. a1300 obs. rare – without a companion 
 
• LEDELY
adj. c1205 obs. rare – belonging to the people or nation, national
 
• LEDEN
n. 1. c897 obs. – Latin
n. 2. c1000 obs. – the language of a nation, people, or race; a ‘tongue’
n. 3. c1320 obs. – the speech or utterance of a person or class of persons; form of speech; way of speaking
n. 4. 1674 Eng. dial. – noise, din. chatter  
 
• LEDGE
n. 1652-62 obs. – a range of mountains or hills
vb. 1. a1300 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to assert without proof, to allege  
vb. 2. 1858 Eng. dial. – to lay eggs
vb. 3. 1873 Eng. dial. – to lay hands on; to beat
 
• LEDGER
adj. 1. 1547 obs. – remaining in a place; resident; permanent; stationary
adj. 2. 1560 obs. exc. arch. – resident in the capacity of ambassador, commissioner, or agent  
adj. 3. 1600 obs. – lying or resting in a place; stationary; resident
adj. 4. 1655 obs. – of a joke, jest, etc.: constantly in use; ‘standing’, ‘stock’  
n. 1. 1538 obs. – a book that lies permanently in some place, as on a desk or table  
n. 2. 1548 obs. – an ordinary or resident ambassador
n. 3. 1550 obs. – a record-book; a register  
n. 4. 1599 obs. – one who is permanently or constantly in a place; a resident
n. 5. 1603 obs. – a representative; a commissioner; an agent
 
• LEDGE UPON
vb. Bk1902 Sc. – to accuse
 
• LEDGING
adj. 1847 Eng. dial. – positive
 
• LEDISH
adj. c1205 obs. – pert. to the people; national
 
• LEDOR
n. 1623 obs. – a biting taunt
 
• LEE
adj. c1400 obs. – sheltered from the wind
n. 1. a900 obs. – a resting-place
n. 2. a1300 obs. – a sheltered position or condition; hence, calmness, peace, tranquillity
 
• LEECH
n. 1. c900 – a physician; one who practices the healing art 
n. 2. c1290 obs. – the finger next to the little finger 
n. 3. 1784 – one who ‘sticks to’ another for the purpose of getting gain out of him; a rapacious person  
vb. c1200 rare – to cure, to heal  
 
• LEECHCRAFT
n. 1. c888 arch. – the art of healing; medical science 
n. 2. c888 arch. – remedy, medicine
 
• LEECHDOM
n. a900 arch. – a medicine, remedy 
 
• LEECHER
n. c1374 rare – a physician
 
• LEECHERY
n. 1892 obs. – the art or practice of healing
 
• LEECH-FINGER
n. c1000 obs. – the finger next to the little finger
 
• LEECH-HOUSE
n. 1483 obs. – a hospital
 
• LEECHING
n. c1000 – healing, medical treatment 
 
• LEECHMAN
n. 1591 obs. – a physician
 
• LEED
n. 1. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. – the speech of a person or class of persons, talk, utterance; manner of speaking or writing 
n. 2. 1513 obs. – language, tongue
 
• LEEDS DEVIL
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – an imaginary monster; a hobgoblin  
 
• LEEDS’S GHOST
n. 1945 Amer. dial. – an imaginary monster; a hobgoblin  
 
• LEEF
n. 1846 military sl. – leave of absence  
 
• LEEFOW
adj. 1825 Sc. – wilful, obstinate
 
• LEEFKYN
n. 1540 obs. rare – a loved one
 
• LEEFUL
adj. 1. c1205 obs. – permissible, right, lawful; just
adj. 2. 1721 Sc. – kind-hearted, sympathetic, considerate, compassionate
 
• LEEFULLY
adv. c1340 obs. – permissibly, lawfully
 
• LEEFULNESS
n. c1449 obs. – lawfulness
 
• LEEGEESE
n. 1929 Sc. – sea barnacles
 
• LEEK
n. 1. a1300 obs. – something of little value
n. 2. c1700 cant obs. – a Welshman
 
• LEEKAM
n. 1929 Sc. – a bad end or result; a catastrophe; a dismal failure
 
• LEEKISH
adj. 1576 obs. – resembling a leek in colour, green
 
• LEEKIT
n. 1925 Sc. obs. – a long, thin fellow
 
• LEEKITIE-LACKITIE
vb. 1896 Sc. – to go click-clack, to clatter
 
• LEEKY
adj. 1. 1552 obs. – resembling a leek in colour, green  
adj. 2. 1911 Sc. – of the hair: like the leaves of a leek, straight and flat, having no curl
 
• LEELY
adj. 1888 Amer. dial. – little  
 
• LEEMAN
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – the ring finger  
 
• LEENGE
vb. 1825 Sc. – to slouch in walking, to lounge
 
• LEENGER
n. 1880 Sc. – a sloucher, a lazy fellow, a lounger
 
• LEER
adj. 1. c1250 obs. – empty; also, clear of; of a burden: useless
adj. 2. 1387 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – having no burden or load; also, of a horse: without a rider  
adj. 3. 1629 obs. – looking askance; oblique, indirect; sly, underhand
adj. 4. 1848 Eng. dial. – of the stomach: empty of food; of persons and animals: having an empty stomach; hungry for want of food  
n. 1. a700 obs. – the face, countenance; hence, look or appearance of the face and skin, hue, complexion  
n. 2. c1000 obs. – the cheek 
n. 3. c1386 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – the flank or loin; the hollow under the ribs 
vb. 1586 obs. – to walk stealthily or with averted looks; to slink away  
 
• LEERET-GRAY
adj. 1898 Sc. – of the hair: tinged or streaked with grey
 
• LEERICAN
n. 1904 Sc. – a larrikin, a rowdy, a hooligan, a scamp
 
• LEERIE
n. 1879 Sc. – din and strife; tumult, wrangling
 
• LEERIE-LA
n. 1. 1812 Sc. – the cock
n. 2. 1816 Sc. – the call of the cock, a cock-crow, cock-a-doodle-doo!
 
• LEERNESS
n. c1000 obs. – emptiness 
 
• LEERUP
n. 1. 1815 Sc. – a sharp blow or smack; a lash with a whip
n. 2. 1910 Sc. – any long trailing thing, like a whip
n. 3. 1910 Sc. – a tall, gangling person; a lanky youth
vb. 1. 1902 Sc. – to thrash, to beat
vb. 2. 1928 Sc. – to walk fast, to hurry; to go at a swinging pace
 
• LEERY
adj. 1. 1676 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – empty  
adj. 2. 1718 sl. – cunning, astute, knowing; artful; wide-awake; alert; cautious, wary  
adj. 3. c1850 sl. – flash; showy of dress and manners 
adj. 4. c1850 sl. – of personal appearance: somewhat wild 
adj. 5. 1890 Amer. dial. – drunk  
adj. 6. 20C sl. – bad-tempered, disagreeable, and cheeky  
 
• LEERY-LOONIE
n. 1895 Sc. – a lunatic; a mentally-deranged person
 
• LEESE
vb. 1. a900 obs. – to set free, to release
vb. 2. c1205 obs. – to lose; to be deprived of; to cease to possess
vb. 3. c1250 obs. – to loosen, to unloose; to unfasten, to open; to relax the body
vb. 4. a1300 obs. – to fail to do something
vb. 5. a1325 obs. – to destroy; to bring to ruin or perdition; to spoil
 
• LEESER
n. 1. c1380 obs. – a destroyer 
n. 2. 1546 obs. – a loser
 
• LEE SET
n. 1903 Amer. dial. – a low bank of clouds to leeward, sometimes presaging a storm  
 
• LEESING
n. 1362 obs. – losing, loss; also, destruction, perdition
 
• LEESOME
adj. 1. c1200 obs. exc. Sc. – lovable; pleasing; pleasant 
adj. 2. a1400 chiefly Sc. obs. – lawful, permissible, right
adj. 3. 1787 Sc. – of weather: fine, balmy, mild and bright
 
• LEESOMELY
adv. 1552 chiefly Sc. – lawfully  
 
• LEETAM
n. 1929 Sc. – a blow
 
• LEETHFUL
adj. 1877 Sc. – diligent, industrious, persevering
 
• LEETLE
adj. 1755 jocular usage – little
 
• LEET-LYTE
n. 1866 Sc. – a thud, a heavy fall
vb. 1866 Sc. – to fall flat with a heavy thud
 
• LEETS
n. 1725 Sc. – manners; demeanour; habits, customs  
 
• LEFFOR
n. a1850 Sc. – one of a pair of objects, a match, a companion
 
• LEFT
n. 1377 obs. – a mean, worthless person
 
• LEFT AND RIGHT
n. L19 Brit. rhyming sl. – a fight  
vb. L19 Brit. rhyming sl. – a fight 
 
• LEFT-FOOT
n. 1960 Amer. dial. – a Protestant  
 
• LEFT-FOOTER
n. 1944 sl., orig. N. Ireland, derogatory – a Roman Catholic
 
• LEFT FOR DEAD
adj. 20C sl. – left behind; surpassed; outstripped  
 
• LEFT-FOREPART
n. M19 Brit. tailors’ sl. – a wife  
 
• LEFT-HANDED
adj. 1. 1609 – ill-omened, inauspicious, sinister  
adj. 2. 1612 – irregular; illicit; dubious; ambiguous, doubtful, questionable  
adj. 3. 1613 – awkward, clumsy, inept  
adj. 4. 1629 obs. – crippled, lame, defective
adj. 5. a1642 – said of a marriage to a social inferior  
adj. 6. 1694 obs. – characterized by underhand dealings  
adj. 7. 1940s US Merchant marine usage – undesirable; unlucky  
adj. 8. M20 US colloq. – crooked, phony, or counterfeit  
adj. 9. M20 US colloq. – homosexual
 
• LEFT-HANDED BATSMAN
n. 1990s sl. – a male homosexual  
 
• LEFT-HANDED BRICKLAYER
n. c1950 Brit. sl. – a Freemason 
 
• LEFT-HANDED COMPLIMENT
n. 1881 Amer. colloq. – praise that is subtle dispraise; reluctant and dubious praise; an insincere or back-handed compliment  
 
• LEFT-HANDED MONKEY WRENCH
n. 1921 Amer. sl. – a nonexistent tool that inexperienced workers are sent to find as a hazing prank  
 
• LEFT-HANDED RELATION
n. 1931 Amer. dial. – an in-law rather than a blood relative  
 
• LEFT-HANDED SAW
n. 1921 Amer. sl. – a nonexistent tool that inexperienced workers are sent to find as a hazing prank  
 
• LEFT-HANDED SCREW DRIVER
n. 1921 Amer. sl. – a nonexistent tool that inexperienced workers are sent to find as a hazing prank  
 
• LEFT-HANDED SPANNER
n. 1920s US sl. – an imaginary tool that an inexperienced worker is sent to find as a prank  
 
• LEFT-HANDED SUGAR BOWL
n. 1950s US sl. – a chamber pot  
 
• LEFT-HANDED THUNDER MUG
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a chamber pot  
 
• LEFT-HANDED WEBSITE
n. 1990s sl. – a website specializing in pornography  
 
• LEFT-HANDED WIFE
n. M17 – a concubine; the equivalent of a common-law wife  
 
• LEFT-HANDER
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a Protestant  
 
• LEFT-HANDINESS
n. 1749 nonce word – awkward manner  
 
• LEFT-HAND SON
n. E20 US criminals’ sl. – a male bastard  
 
• LEFT-HAND SUGAR BOWL
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a chamber pot  
 
• LEFT-HAND TONGUE
n. a1632 obs. – a language written from right to left, as Hebrew or Arabic
 
• LEFTIE
n. 1. 1886 Amer. sl. – a left-handed person, esp. a left-handed pitcher or other athlete  
n. 2. 1935 Amer. sl., usually derogatory – a person of liberal or socialist political beliefs; a radical
 
• LEFT IN THE LURCH
n. L19 rhyming sl. – a church  
 
• LEFT-LEGGER
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a Protestant  
 
• LEFTMENT
n. 1928 Amer. dial. – a remainder  
 
• LEFTMENTS
n. 1928 Amer. dial. – leftovers  
 
• LEFT-OFF
int. 1960s US college sl. – (as ‘left off!’) a jocular reversal of ‘right on!’  
n. M19 sl. – a cast-off  
 
• LEFT OUT
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – neglected; ignored  
 
• LEFT OUT IN THE COLD
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – neglected; ignored
 
• LEFTOVER
n. 1926 US sl. – a has-been  
 
• LEFTSOMES
adv. 1398 obs. rare – in a leftward direction, leftwards
 
• LEFT THE MINORITY
adj. L19 Brit. – died  
 
• LEFT-TURN
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an error; a mistake; a blunder  
 
• LEFT-WINGER
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a Roman Catholic  
 
• LEFTWISE
adj. 1860 obs. – toward the left
 
• LEFT-WITTED
adj. 1616 rare – dull, stupid, foolish, silly
 
• LEFTY
adj. 1, 1885 colloq. – left-handed
adj. 2. 1925 Sc. – shy, bashful
n. 1. a1838 Sc. – a plat of cow-dung
n. 2. 1840 US military sl. – a lieutenant  
n. 3. 1886 Amer. sl. – a left-handed person, esp. a left-handed pitcher or other athlete  
n. 4. 1935 Amer. sl. – a person of liberal or socialist political beliefs; a radical  
n. 5. 1968 US entertainment industry usage – a left-handed compliment; innuendo