leech

1) A physician or doctor, in use in Old English and recorded as a by-name from the thirteenth century.

1379 Thomas Leche, medic’, Howden

1445 John Stevynson, leche, York

1552 To John Clerkeson xs which [he]laid downe for me to the leech, Garforth. It could be used also of women: 1524 a howsse that a lyche woman was in, York.

dates 1379 1445 1524 1552

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