League, s. A measure of length, containing three miles.
Lean, a. Meagre, wanting flesh; out of condition.
Lean, s. The part of flesh which consists of the muscle without the fat.
Leap, v. To pass over or into by leaping.
Leap, s. Bound, jump, act of leaping; space passed by leaping; an assault of an animal of prey; embrace of animals.
Leash, s. A brace and a half; a leather thong, by which a falconer holds his hawk, or a courser leads his greyhound; a band wherewith to tie anything in general.
Leash is a sporting term in use to imply the number three; as exceeding one, and not reaching two brace; for instance, a brace of hares, a leash of pheasants, and two brace of partridges. A brace of pointers, a leash of greyhounds, and two brace of spaniels. Custom, however, in this, as in most other things, admits of deviation and exception; in proof of which we say a brace of spaniels, a couple and a half of hounds, and two brace of pointers; a brace of snipes, a couple and a half of woodcocks, and two couple of rabbits. It is therefore consistent and sportsman-like to say a leash of birds (partridges), a leash of pheasants, a leash of hares, or any other article where two are termed a brace; but improper to call three a leash, where two of the kind are called a couple.
Leather, s. Dressed hides of animals.
Leech, s. A physician, a professor of the art of healing; a kind of small water serpent, which fastens on animals, and sucks the blood.
Leeward, a. Under the wind, on the side opposite to that from which the wind blows.