Main Entry:

¹leg

Pronunciation:

\ˈleg also ˈlāg\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old Norse leggr

Date:

14th century

1: a limb of an animal used esp. for supporting the body and for walking: as a (1): one of the paired vertebrate limbs that in bipeds extend from the top of the thigh to the foot (2): the part of such a limb between the knee and foot b: the back half of a hindquarter of a meat animal c: one of the rather generalized segmental appendages of an arthropod used in walking and crawling 2 a: a pole or bar serving as a support or prop <the legs of a tripod> b: a branch of a forked or jointed object <the legs of a compass>3 a: the part of an article of clothing that covers the leg b: the part of the upper (as of a boot) that extends above the ankle4: obeisance, bow —used chiefly in the phrase to make a leg5: a side of a right triangle that is not the hypotenuse ; also : a side of an isosceles triangle that is not the base6 a: the course and distance sailed by a boat on a single tack b: a portion of a trip : stage c: one section of a relay race d: one of several events or games necessary to be won to decide a competition <won the first two legs of horse racing's Triple Crown>7: a branch or part of an object or system8plural : long-term appeal or interest <a news story with legs>

— leg·less \-ləs\ adjective

— a leg to stand on

: support ; especially : a basis for one's position in a controversy

— on one's last legs

: at or near the end of one's resources : on the verge of failure, exhaustion, or ruin