"bloodsucking aquatic worm," from Old English læce (Kentish lyce), of unknown origin (with a cognate in Middle Dutch lake). Commonly regarded as a transferred use of leech (n.2), but the Old English forms suggest a distinct word, which has been assimilated to leech (n.2) by folk etymology [see OED]. Figuratively applied to human parasites since 1784.
leech (n.2)
obsolete for "physician," from Old English læce, probably from Old Danish læke, from Proto-Germanic *lekjaz "enchanter, one who speaks magic words; healer, physician" (cognates: Old Frisian letza, Old Saxon laki, Old Norse læknir, Old High German lahhi, Gothic lekeis "physician"), literally "one who counsels," perhaps connected with a root found in Celtic (compare Irish liaig "charmer, exorcist, physician") and Slavic (compare Serbo-Croatian lijekar, Polish lekarz), from PIE *lep-agi "conjurer," from root *leg- "to collect," with derivatives meaning "to speak" (see lecture (n.)).
For sense development, compare Old Church Slavonic baliji "doctor," originally "conjurer," related to Serbo-Croatian bajati "enchant, conjure;" Old Church Slavonic vrači, Russian vrač "doctor," related to Serbo-Croatian vrač "sorcerer, fortune-teller." The form merged with leech (n.1) in Middle English, apparently by folk etymology. In 17c., leech usually was applied only to veterinary practitioners. The fourth finger of the hand, in Old English, was læcfinger, translating Latin digitus medicus, Greek daktylus iatrikos, supposedly because a vein from that finger stretches straight to the heart.
双语例句
1. He's fastening on that poor girl like a leech.
他像蚂蟥一样缠着那个可怜的姑娘。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Leech and Lyons have made different classifications of meanings from different angles.
语言学家Leech和Lyons分别对意义进行了分类.
来自互联网
3. Jimmy Leech, no one could run like you in school races.
吉米?利查, 在校田径赛中没有人跑得像你一样快.
来自超越目标英语 第4册
4. It'soon proved its efficacy , and redeemed the leech's pledge.
药力很快便见了效, 看来医生说话算数.
来自英汉文学 - 红字
5. But he hath a godly minister or two with him, and likewise a leech.
