"bloodsucking aquatic worm," from Old English l?ce (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 l?ce, probably from Old Danish l?ke, from Proto-Germanic *lekjaz "enchanter, one who speaks magic words; healer, physician" (cognates: Old Frisian letza, Old Saxon laki, Old Norse l?knir, 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 vra?i, Russian vra? "doctor," related to Serbo-Croatian vra? "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 l?cfinger, translating Latin digitus medicus, Greek daktylus iatrikos, supposedly because a vein from that finger stretches straight to the heart.
雙語例句
1. He's fastening on that poor girl like a leech.
他像螞蟥一樣纏著那個(gè)可憐的姑娘。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Leech and Lyons have made different classifications of meanings from different angles.
語言學(xué)家Leech和Lyons分別對意義進(jìn)行了分類.
來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
3. Jimmy Leech, no one could run like you in school races.
吉米?利查, 在校田徑賽中沒有人跑得像你一樣快.
來自超越目標(biāo)英語 第4冊
4. It'soon proved its efficacy , and redeemed the leech's pledge.
藥力很快便見了效, 看來醫(yī)生說話算數(shù).
來自英漢文學(xué) - 紅字
5. But he hath a godly minister or two with him, and likewise a leech.