horseleech

[ hawrs-leech ]

noun

1. a large leech, as Haemopis marmoratis, that infests the mouth and nasal passages of horses.

horseleech

/ ˈhɔːsˌliːtʃ /

noun

1. any of several large carnivorous freshwater leeches of the genus Haemopis, esp H. sanguisuga
2. an archaic name for a veterinary surgeon

Word History and Origins

Origin of horseleech¹

First recorded in 1400–50, horseleech is from the late Middle English word horsleych. See horse, leech ¹

Example Sentences

To the Church they were stanch; they held on with a kind Of a power like horseleeches' of suction, Intolerant, bigoted, narrow, and blind, They but lived to persist in obstruction.

From Project Gutenberg

Morales had, however, made his horseleech nature tolerably plain already, and Appleby decided to stand firm.

From Project Gutenberg

The people, like Oliver, "asked for more;" ungrateful people! not content with Father Glynn at the viceroy's table, and the Bishop of "Mesopotamia" in the council, they cried, like the horseleech's daughters, "Give! give!"

From Project Gutenberg

This faith thou not only keepest silent with this uproar of thine, but even oppressest, only so thy insatiable horseleech have those to whom it may say, "Bring, bring!"

From Project Gutenberg

They are always hanging upon us like an incubus; and yet like Solomon's daughters of the horseleech, are never satisfied.

From Project Gutenberg