n. [ OE. lese, lees, leece, OF. lesse, F. laisse, LL. laxa, fr. L. laxus loose. See Lax. ] 1. A thong of leather, or a long cord, by which a person may hold or restrain an animal, such as a falconer holding his hawk, or a courser his dog. For dogs and cats, the leash is commonly attached to a collar around the neck of the animal. [ 1913 Webster ] Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Sporting) A brace and a half; a tierce; three; three creatures of any kind, especially greyhounds, foxes, bucks, and hares; hence, the number three in general. [ 1913 Webster ] [ I ] kept my chamber a leash of days. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ] Then were I wealthier than a leash of kings. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Weaving) A string with a loop at the end for lifting warp threads, in a loom. [ 1913 Webster ]
To keep (a person) on a short leash to maintain close control over the activities of (a person). [ PJC ]
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