leech
UK: liːtʃ | US: liːtʃ
n. a blood-sucking worm, often aquatic
n. (historical) a physician or healer (archaic)
vt. to drain resources or exploit others
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The word "leech" has a dual history. In Old English (lǣce), it originally meant "physician" or "healer," likely derived from Proto-Germanic lēkijaz. Over time, the term became associated with bloodletting (a common medical practice using worms), leading to its modern zoological meaning. The parasitic connotation later extended metaphorically to describe exploitative behavior.
The leech attaches itself to the skin to feed on blood.
Medieval doctors often used leeches for bloodletting.
He’s a financial leech, always borrowing money but never repaying.
The pond was teeming with leeches after the rain.
Avoid that leech—he’ll drain your energy with constant demands.