leech
noun
[ liːtʃ ]
• an aquatic or terrestrial annelid worm with suckers at both ends. Many species are bloodsucking parasites, especially of vertebrates, and others are predators.
• a person who extorts profit from or sponges on others.
• "they are leeches feeding off the hard-working majority"
Similar:
parasite,
clinger,
barnacle,
bloodsucker,
passenger,
layabout,
extortioner,
sycophant,
toady,
hanger-on,
fawner,
yes man,
scrounger,
sponger,
freeloader,
ligger,
junketeer,
cadger,
mooch,
moocher,
suck-up,
leech
verb
• habitually exploit or rely on.
• "he's leeching off the abilities of others"
Origin:
Old English lǣce, lȳce ; related to Middle Dutch lake, lieke .
leech
noun
• a doctor or healer.
Origin:
Old English lǣce, of Germanic origin.
leech
noun
• the after or leeward edge of a fore-and-aft sail, the leeward edge of a spinnaker, or a vertical edge of a square sail.
Origin:
late 15th century: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish lik, Danish lig, denoting a rope sewn round the edge of a sail to stop the canvas tearing.
like a leech
• very closely and persistently.
• "you've been clinging to me like a leech all these months"
