Leeches? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 09-25-2006, 05:23 AM

The English term derives from the Old English word læce, hence læcedom ('treatment, cure') and læcecræft (the practice of medicine). For the sake of comparison, one of the Old English words for the body was līc, whence derives the modern English word 'litch'. The similarity of the words for a physician and a leech (not to mention the association of the two) led to their being confused in Middle English, hence the confusing double meaning of the archaic English term.

09-25-2006, 05:23 AM	#9
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	Better late than never The English term derives from the Old English word læce, hence læcedom ('treatment, cure') and læcecræft (the practice of medicine). For the sake of comparison, one of the Old English words for the body was līc, whence derives the modern English word 'litch'. The similarity of the words for a physician and a leech (not to mention the association of the two) led to their being confused in Middle English, hence the confusing double meaning of the archaic English term. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?