To make (or scrape) a leg, verb. phr. (old and colloquial).—To bow; to
curtsey. Also To leg it.
1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse [Grosart (1885), ii. 63]. How much
better is it then to haue an eligant Lawier to plead ones cause,
than a stuttring Townsman, that loseth himselfe in his tale, and
dooth nothing but make legs.
1603. Dekker, Wonderful Yeare [Grosart (1886), i. 91]. He calls
forth one by one, to note their graces, Whilst they make legs he
copies out their faces.
1606. Chapman, Mons. D’Olive, i. p. 117 (Plays, 1874). Pages and
parasites [live] by making legs.
1616. Jonson, Devil is an Ass, ii. 3. I learned in it myself, To
make my legs, and do my postures.
1633. Shirley, Bird in a Cage, v. 1. He’ll kiss his hand and leg
it.
1662. Rump, ii. p. 192. Shall’s ask him, what he means to do?—Good
faith, with all my heart; Thou mak’st the better leg o’ th’ two.
1670. J. Eachard, Contempt of the Clergy, in Arber’s Garner, vol.
vii. p. 264. He comes to the end of the table ... having made a
submissive leg.
1673. Davenant, Playhouse to Let, Epilogue. Female fishes never
make a leg.
1714. Lucas, Gamesters, 25. The prentice makes a handsome leg and
bow.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Leg.
b. 1796. Wolcot [P. Pindar], Rights of Kings, Ode xii. To Thrones,
with due decorum, make a leg.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, liii. p. 443. ‘Mr. Bucket, my Lady.’
Mr. Bucket makes a leg, and comes forward.
To leg it, verb. phr. (common).—1. To run away. Cf. Leg-bail and To
give legs.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
1878. Besant and Rice, By Celia’s Arbour, xlviii. Whatever the
werdict, you up and leg it, and then bring in an alibi.