Main Entry: ¹leech

Pronunciation: \ˈlēch\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English leche, from Old English lǣce; akin to Old High German lāhhi physician

Date: before 12th century

1 archaic : physician, surgeon
2 [from its former use by physicians for bleeding patients] : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usually freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end
3 : a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain

synonyms see parasite

— leech·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective