sanguisuge

plural sanguisuges

1. obsoleterareA leech (blood-sucking annelid).First known use until 1620s

   Can slice a veine, and by the trifid sluce Of sanguisuge diminish peccant blood

   1628, W. William Folkingham, Panala medica vel sanitatis et longævitatis alumna catholica = The fruitfull and frugall nourse of sound health and long life, page 116

   2 more examples

   For that blody judge And mighty sanguisuge, The Pope that is so huge, Is ever ther refuge;

   a. 1529?, John Skelton [attributed], “The Image of Ipocrysy”, in The Political Works of Skelton and Donne, published 1879, page 408

   Proceede to more manifest diminishing of the humor, by bludletting, cupping, or sanguisuges

   1585, Johann Jacob Wecker, translated by John Banister, A compendious chyrurgerie, book 3, chapter 14, page 452