~Leary bloke~, a clever or artful person.
~Leather~, to beat or thrash. Probably from allusion to the skin, which is often called LEATHER. Some think the term is from the LEATHER belts worn by soldiers, which are often used as weapons in street rows. Most likely from there being "nothing like LEATHER" with which to administer a thrashing.
~Leathern conveniency~, a carriage. A Quaker being reprimanded by the Society of Friends for keeping a carriage, "contrary to the ancient testimonies," said, "it is not a carriage I keep, but merely a LEATHERN-CONVENIENCY." _See_ under SIMON PURE, in the Introduction.
~Leaving shop~, or DOLLY SHOP, an unlicensed house where goods are taken into pawn at exorbitant rates of interest.
~Led captain~, a fashionable spunger, a "swell" who by artifice ingratiates himself into the favours of the master of the house, and lives at his table. Probably from the fact that a real captain leads, but that a sham one is led--to the dinner-table.
~Leer~, empty.--_Oxfordshire._ Pure _German_, as is nearly so the next word.
~Leer~, print, newspaper. _German_, LEHREN, to instruct; hence _Old English_, LERE, "spelt in the LEER." _See_ SPELL.--_Old Cant._
~Leg~, a part of a game. In some old games there are so many LEGS to the chalk, and so many chalks to the game. Sometimes the LEGS are called chalks, and the chalks LEGS--one word is as good as another, provided an agreement is made beforehand.
~Leg~, or BLACKLEG, a disreputable sporting character and racecourse _habitué_; that is, one who is disreputable among sporting men.
~Leg-and-leg~, the state of a game when each player has won a LEG. In Ireland a LEG is termed a horse, LEG-AND-LEG being there termed "horse-and-horse."
~Leg bail~, the bail or security given by absence. To give LEG BAIL is to run away.
~Leg it~, to run; "to give a LEG," to assist, as when one mounts a horse; "making a LEG," a countryman's bow,--projecting the LEG from behind as a balance to the head bent forward.--_Shakspeare._
~Leg-of-mutton~, humorous street term for a sheep's trotter, or foot.
~Leg of mutton fist~, a large, muscular or bony hand.
~Length~, forty-two lines of a dramatic composition.--_Theatrical._
~Length~, six months' imprisonment. _See_ STRETCH.
