Leg (lĕg), n. [Icel.
leggr; akin to Dan. læg calf of the leg, Sw.
lägg.] 1. A limb or member of an
animal used for supporting the body, and in running, climbing, and
swimming; esp., that part of the limb between the knee and
foot.
2. That which resembles a leg in form or use;
especially, any long and slender support on which any object rests;
as, the leg of a table; the leg of a pair of compasses
or dividers.
3. The part of any article of clothing which
covers the leg; as, the leg of a stocking or of a pair of
trousers.
4. A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a
leg; probably from drawing the leg backward in bowing.
[Obs.]
He that will give a cap and make a leg in
thanks for a favor he never received.
Fuller.
5. A disreputable sporting character; a
blackleg. [Slang, Eng.]
6. (Naut.) The course and distance
made by a vessel on one tack or between tacks.
7. (Steam Boiler) An extension of the
boiler downward, in the form of a narrow space between vertical
plates, sometimes nearly surrounding the furnace and ash pit, and
serving to support the boiler; -- called also water
leg.
8. (Grain Elevator) The case
containing the lower part of the belt which carries the
buckets.
9. (Cricket) A fielder whose position
is on the outside, a little in rear of the batter.
A good leg (Naut.), a course sailed
on a tack which is near the desired course. -- Leg
bail, escape from custody by flight. [Slang] --
Legs of an hyperbola (or other curve)
(Geom.), the branches of the curve which extend outward
indefinitely. -- Legs of a triangle, the
sides of a triangle; -- a name seldom used unless one of the sides is
first distinguished by some appropriate term; as, the hypothenuse and
two legs of a right-angled triangle. On one's
legs, standing to speak. -- On one's last
legs. See under Last. -- To have
legs (Naut.), to have speed. -- To
stand on one's own legs, to support one's self; to be
independent.
Leg (lĕg), v. t. To use as
a leg, with it as object: (a) To
bow. [Obs.] (b) To run. [Low]
Leg, n. 1.
(Math.) Either side of a triangle of a triangle as
distinguished from the base or, in a right triangle, from the
hypotenuse; also, an indefinitely extending branch of a curve, as of a
hyperbola.
2. (Telephony) A branch or lateral
circuit connecting an instrument with the main line.
3. (Elec.) A branch circuit; one phase
of a polyphase system.