leg English · revision 4007

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1275|origins=non leggr}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /leɡ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|leg]], legge,^(MWU 2024) [[bor|non|leggr|t=leg, bone of the arm or leg]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*lagjaz]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) the source also of Danish læg and Swedish lägg “the calf of the leg”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a word with no certain further connections.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart and Merriam-Webster compare Old English līra “fleshy part of the body” and Latin lacertus “muscle, upper arm”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and Buck suggests a root meaning “to bend”.^(Etymonline) It replaced Old English [[shank]].^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One of the limbs of support and movement: the late 13th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) about 1275 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is distinguished from an arm or fin in being used for support.^(Etymonline) Of trouser legs it is from the 1570s,^(Etymonline) of the sides of a triangle from the 1650s, translating Greek skelos,^(Etymonline) and of furniture supports from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) ''On one's last legs'' is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) A ship's run on a single tack (1867) gave the sense “a stage of a journey or race” (1920).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) ''To take leg bail'', to run away, was old slang (1774),^(Etymonline) ''shake a leg'' meant “dance” from 1869 and “hurry up” from 1880,^(Etymonline) and ''legs'', staying power, is from 1970s show business.^(Etymonline) The verb ''leg it'', “to walk fast, run”, is from about 1500^(Etymonline) or 1601 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1275 – the limb.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – verb, ''leg it''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – a trouser leg.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – ''on one's last legs''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – a furniture leg.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1867 – a ship's run on one tack.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1920 – a stage of a journey.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A limb of an animal used for support and walking.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # One of the lower limbs of a human being, especially the part between the knee and the foot.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A supporting part like a leg, as of a table.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The part of a garment that covers the leg.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A stage of a journey or race.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Either side of a triangle other than the base or hypotenuse.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(informal)'' To go on foot; to walk or run: ''leg it''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[legless]]

+ * [[leglike]]

+ * [[leg out]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[shank]]

+ * [[legging]]

+ * [[leggy]]

+ * [[limb]]

+ * [[foot]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}