Leech

• Leach

• As an English surname, variant of Leach.
• As an Irish surname, from Liaigh (“physician”) (a calque of the English surname) or Ó Laoghóg (“descendant of Laoghóg”) and Ó Maolmhaodhóg (“descendant of Maolmhaodhóg”); see Logue.

Leech (plural Leeches)

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

• 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.

• leceh, leche, chele, Elche

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

From Middle High German lieht, from Old High German lioht, from Proto-West Germanic *leuht.

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-).

Leech n (plural Leechter, diminutive Leechje) (central and eastern Ripuarian, including Kölsch)

1. light

   Denk draan, datt de hee et Leech usmähs, wann de nohm Bett jehs!

   Remember to turn off the light here when you go to bed!

   • 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.

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

From Middle High German lügen(e). The monosyllabic form was backformed from the plural. The vowel was adapted to the underlying verb.

Leech f (plural Leje) (Moselle Franconian, mostly eastern dialects)

1. (chiefly in the plural) lie (falsehood)

   Verzehl mer doch kään Leje!

   Don’t you tell me such lies!

• Leje (older form)
• Lich, Liech; Lijje, Liehe (western Moselle Franconian)
• Lüch, Löch; Löjje, Lüjje, Lühe (Ripuarian)

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

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.

• IPA^(key): /ˈleː˦ç/
• Rhymes: -eːç

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

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