Leden, led′n, n. (Spens.) language, dialect, speech. [A.S. lǽden, Latin speech—L. Latinum, Latin.]
Ledge, lej, n. a shelf on which articles may be laid: that which resembles such a shelf: a ridge or shelf of rocks: a layer: a small moulding: a lode in mining.—adj. Ledg′y, abounding in ledges. [Skeat explains as Scand., allied to Sw. lagg, Ice. lögg, Norw. logg (pl. legger); cf. also Norw. lega, a couch; all from Ice. liggja; Sw. ligga, Dan. ligge, to lie.]
Ledger, lej′ėr, n. the principal book of accounts among merchants, in which the entries in all the other books are entered: (Shak.) a resident, esp. an ambassador: a bar, stone, &c., made to lie flat, a piece of timber used in making a scaffolding, a horizontal slab, as over a tomb.—adj. lying in a certain place, stationary. [Skeat explains ledger-book as one that lies always ready, from Dut. legger, one that lies down, leggen, to lie, a common corr. of liggen, to lie (like lay for lie in English).]
Ledum, lē′dum, n. a genus of ericaceous plants. [Gr. lēdon, ladanum.]
Lee, lē, n. the quarter toward which the wind blows.—adj. as in Lee′-side, the sheltered side of a ship.—ns. Lee′-board, a board lowered on the lee-side of a vessel, and acting like a keel or centre-board to prevent her from drifting to leeward; Lee′-gage, the sheltered or safe side:—opp. to Weather-gage; Lee′-shore, the shore opposite to the lee-side of a ship; Lee′-tide, a tide running in the same direction as the wind is blowing.—adj. Lee′ward, pertaining to, or in, the direction toward which the wind blows.—adv. toward the lee.—n. Lee′way, the distance a ship is driven to leeward of her true course: a falling behind.—Make up leeway, to make up for time lost; Under the lee, on the side sheltered from the wind, under shelter from the wind. [A.S. hleów, shelter; Ice. hlé, Low Ger. lee; prov. Eng. lew.]
Lee, lē, n. (Spens.) a river: also the same as Lea.
Leech, lēch, n. the edge of a sail at the sides. [Ice. lík, a leech-line; Dan. lig; Sw. lik, a bolt-rope.]
Leech, lēch, n. a blood-sucking worm: a physician.—v.t. to apply leeches to.—ns. Leech′craft, Leech′dom. [A.S. lǽce, one who heals; cf. Goth. leikeis.]
Leef, lēf, adj. an obsolete form of lief.