Webster's English Dictionary

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leech

1. leech \'le-ch\ n [ME leche, fr. OE l-ce; akin to OHG la-hhi phy] 
   [fr. its former use by physicians for bleeding patients]sician archaic  1: 
   PHYSICIAN, SURGEON  2: any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usu. 
   freshwater annelid worm s (class Hirundinea) having typically a flattened 
   lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end 3: a hanger-on who 
   seeks advantage or gain : PARASITE 
2. leech vt 1: to bleed by the use of leeches  2: to drain the substance of 
   : EXHAUST  : to attach oneself to a person as a leech 
3. leech \'le-ch\ n [ME leche, fr. MLG li-k boltrope; akin to MHG geleich 
   join]t - more at LIGATURE 1: either vertical edge of a square sail  2: the 
   after edge of a fore-and-aft sail