LEARY, flash, or knowing.
LEARY BLOAK, a person who dresses showily.
LEATHER, to beat or thrash. From the leather belt worn by soldiers and
policemen, often used as a weapon in street rows.
LEAVING SHOP, an unlicensed house where goods are taken in to pawn at
exorbitant rates of interest.—_Daily Telegraph_, 1st August, 1859.
LEEF, “I’d as LEEF do it as not,” _i.e._, I have no objection to do
it.—_Corruption_ of LIEF, or LEAVE. _Old English_, LIEF, inclined to.
LEG IT, to run; LEG BAIL, to run off; “to give a LEG,” to assist, as
when one mounts a horse; “making a LEG,” a countryman’s bow,—projecting
the leg from behind as a balance to the head bent forward.—_Shakespere._
LEGGED, in irons.
LEGS, or BLACKLEGS, disreputable sporting characters, and race-course
_habitués_.
LEGS OF MUTTON, inflated street term for sheeps’ trotters, or feet.