Leek

See also: leek

English

Etymology

Perhaps of pre-Anglo-Saxon (non-Old English) origin and instead from Celtic; compare Welsh llech and Irish leac (“stone”), both from Proto-Celtic *ɸlikkā. Recorded as Lec in 1086 (DB).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /liːk/

Proper noun

Leek

1. A town and civil parish with a town council in Staffordshire Moorlands district, Staffordshire, England (OS grid ref SJ9856).
2. A village and former municipality in Groningen province, Netherlands.
3. A surname.

Anagrams

• Kele, elke, keel, lekë

Dutch

Etymology

First attested as dye leeck in 1495. Derived from Old Frisian leke (“natural watercourse”). Originally a hydronym.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leːk/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Leek
• Rhymes: -eːk
• Homophone: leek

Proper noun

Leek n

1. A village and former municipality of Westerkwartier, Groningen, Netherlands.

   Synonym: Koetsenburg (Carnival nickname)

Derived terms

• Leekster
• Leekstermeer

References

• van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “leek4”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute

German Low German

Etymology

Ultimately cognate to German Laich.

Noun

Leek m

1. (Low Prussian) spawn (eggs laid in the water by aquatic organisms)