leach

leach · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*leǵ-“to leak”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*lēkijō“a leak, drain, flow”
3. Old English · inherited from*lǣċ
4. Middle English · inherited fromleche“leachate; sluggish stream”
5. English todayleach

From Middle English leche (“leachate; sluggish stream”), from Old English *lǣċ, *lǣċe (“muddy stream”), from Proto-Germanic *lēkijō (“a leak, drain, flow”) (compare Proto-Germanic *lekaną (“to leak, drain”)), from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to leak”). Cognate with Old English leċċan (“to water, moisten”), Old English lacu (“stream, pool, pond”). More at leak, lake.

leach · verb²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*leǵ-“to leak”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*lakjaną
3. Old English · inherited fromleċċan
4. Middle English · inherited from*lechen
5. English todayleach

From Middle English *lechen, *lecchen, from Old English leċċan, from Proto-Germanic *lakjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to leak”).

Leach · proper noun³

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*lekaną
2. Old English · derived fromlæcc“boggy stream”
3. Old English · derived fromlǣċe“doctor, physician”
4. English todayLeach

Two main origins: * Occupational surname for a physician, from Old English lǣċe (“doctor, physician”). * Topographic surname for someone who lived by a boggy stream, from Old English læcc (“boggy stream”) (related to Proto-Germanic *lekaną), or from several English placenames related to this (compare Leake).

Words from the same roots