Leech

See also: leech and léëch

English

Alternative forms

• Leach

Etymology

• As an English surname, variant of Leach.
• As an Irish surname, from Ó maol mhaodhóg; see Logue.

Proper noun

Leech (plural Leeches)

1. A surname originating as an occupation, derived from the profession leech, a former word for a physician.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Leech is the 6640^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 5099 individuals. Leech is most common among White (91.8%) individuals.

Anagrams

• chele, leche

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• Liëht, Leht (western Ripuarian)
• Leecht (parts of northern Moselle Franconian), Lecht (Siegerland)
• Liecht (most of Moselle Franconian)

Etymology

From Middle High German lieht, from Proto-Germanic *leuhtą. Though Middle High German -ie- yields Ripuarian -ee-, the form is due to early shortening, lowering, and secondary lengthening (cf. leech with Middle High German -ī-).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leːɕ/
• Homophone: leech

Noun

Leech n (plural Leechter, diminutive Leechje)

1. (central and eastern Ripuarian, Kölsch) light
   • 2015, “Sulang die Leechter noch brenne”‎^[1]performed by Miljö:

     Sulang beim Lommi die Leechter noch brenne,
     Sulang ne Funk weiß, wie Stippefott jeiht,
     Sulang dä Pitter noch schleiht,
     Dä Speimanes noch speit:
     Jo, su lang stirv dä Kölsche nit us.

     As long as the lights are still on at Lommi’s [pub in Deutz],
     As long as the Funken know their traditional dance,
     As long as the big bell of the Cologne Cathedral still chimes,
     As long as Speimanes still spits:
     Yeah, so long the Colognians won’t die out.

Limburgish

Alternative forms

• leech (Veldeke spelling)
• Leet, Lett (East Limburgish-Ripuarian)
  • Leit (Selfkant)
  • Léït (Eupen)

Etymology

From earlier lieht, from Middle Dutch licht, from Old Dutch lieht, from Proto-West Germanic *leuht, from Proto-Germanic *leuhtą, from Proto-Indo-European *lewktom.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈleː˦ç/
• Rhymes: -eːç

Noun

Leech n (plural Leechter, diminutive Leechske or Leechschke) (German-based spelling)

1. light
2. (colloquial) lamp, candle; any lightsource