What does leg mean?
A leg is the lower limb of the human body, connecting the hip to the foot and enabling a person to stand, walk, run, and jump. The word's figurative uses reflect the idea of a connecting or supporting part: a leg may be one stage in a journey, one contest in a tournament, a branch of an organization, or a support beneath a table. Expressions such as 'break a leg' and 'pull someone's leg' are idiomatic and should not be interpreted literally. The term is also used as a verb, most commonly in the informal phrase 'leg it', meaning to run away or leave. Together, these meanings make 'leg' a useful example of how a body-part term can extend metaphorically to describe routes, divisions, supports, and stages of a larger undertaking.
Either of the two limbs extending from the hip to the foot; also, a supporting or connecting component, a stage of a journey or competition, or a branch of an organization.
"The table has four sturdy legs."
In figurative uses, 'leg' denotes a distinct portion, stage, or branch of a larger whole.
To travel or proceed along a particular route, especially as part of a longer journey.
"They legged it through the mountains before the weather turned."
This use is less common in formal writing and occurs especially in the informal expression 'leg it', meaning to run away or leave quickly.
The regular plural is used for both the body-part sense and figurative senses such as stages, branches, or supports.
"Her legs were tired after the climb."
From the Old Norse word for the whole lower limb to shorthand for an entire stage of a journey, 'leg' has always implied something that connects one point to another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does leg come from?
The word comes from Old Norse leg, meaning the limb between the knee and the foot, and entered Middle English in that form. Its earliest English uses referred to the body limb, while related extensions developed for parts that support or connect something. The word is broadly comparable to limb-related forms in other Germanic languages, including Icelandic leggur, Dutch been, and German Bein.
Related word forms
How leg is actually used
The word is neutral and widely used in British and American English. The expression 'pull someone's leg' means to tease someone playfully, while 'break a leg' is a traditional expression of good wishes before a performance. As a verb, 'leg it' is informal and means to run away or leave quickly.