What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Leech vs Hirudinal - What's the difference?

leech | hirudinal |

As a noun leech

is an aquatic blood-sucking annelid of class hirudinea, especially or leech can be (archaic) a physician or leech can be (nautical) the vertical edge of a square sail.

As a verb leech

is to apply a leech medicinally, so that it sucks blood from the patient.

As an adjective hirudinal is

(obsolete) of or pertaining to leeches.

leech

English

(wikipedia leech)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (Dutch laak).

Noun

(es)
  • An aquatic blood-sucking annelid of class Hirudinea, especially .
  • * 2003 , William W. Johnstone, The Last Of The Dog Team , page 195
    • The leech on his leg had swelled to more than five inches long, puffed and swollen on his blood.
  • A person who derives profit from others, in a parasitic fashion.
  • * 2000 , Ray Garmon, The Man Who Just Didn't Care , page 20
    • 'Wrecked his body and his mind, no use to hisself or his family or nobody, just a leech on society'.
  • * 2006 , D. L. Harman, A State of Nine One One , page 106
    • At this point, I felt this man was a leech . I suspected that he had spent a lifetime living off the good will of women that he met.
  • (medicine, dated) A glass tube designed for drawing blood from a scarified part by means of a vacuum.
    • Synonyms
    * (person who lives as a parasite) parasite, sponger, bloodsucker, vampire
    Derived terms
    * leechlike

    Verb

    (es)
  • To apply a leech medicinally, so that it sucks blood from the patient.
  • * 2003 , George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords
    • The poppy made him sleep and while he slept they leeched him to drain off the bad blood.
  • To drain (resources) without giving back.
    • Bert leeched hundreds of files from the BBS, but never uploaded anything in return.
  • * 1992', ''AfricAsia'' ' 2 (1): 12
    • Guinea is also blocking Strasser's efforts to stop illegal fishing in Sierra Leone's territorial waters and the smuggling of gold and diamonds, which leech hundreds of millions of dollars from the country's economy.
    Usage notes
    Do not confuse this verb with the verb leach.
    Synonyms
    * (to drain resources) drain
    Derived terms
    * leecher

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • (archaic) A physician.
  • * 1663 , (Hudibras) , by Samuel Butler, part 1,
    • Thus virtuous Orsin was endued / With learning, conduct, fortitude / Incomparable; and as the prince / Of poets, Homer, sung long since, / A skilful leech is better far, / Than half a hundred men of war [...]
  • * 1992 , Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety , Harper Perennial 2007, p. 11:
    • He coughed sputum stained with blood, and a scraping, crackling noise came from his chest, quite audible to anyone in the room. ‘Lungs possibly not too good,’ the leech said.
  • (paganism, Heathenry) A healer.
  • * 1900 , Augustus Henry Keane, Man, Past and Present , The University Press (Cambridge)
    • Their functions are threefold, those of the medicine-man (the leech , or healer by supernatural means); of the soothsayer (the prophet through communion with the invisible world); and of the priest, especially in his capacity as exorcist
  • * 1996', Swain Wodening, “Scandinavian Craft Lesson 6: Runic Divination”, ''Theod Magazine'' ' 3 (4)
    • In ancient times runesters were a specialized class separate from that of the witch or ordinary spell caster (much as the other specialists such as the leech or healer and the seithkona were different from a witch), and even today many believe it takes years of training to become adept at using the runes in spell work.
  • * 2003 , Brian Froud and Ari Berk, The Runes of Elfland , Pavillion Books, ISBN 1 86205 647 1, page 22
    • "Leech? " "Not another doctor".
  • * 2004 , Runic John, The Book of Seithr , Capall Bann Publishing, ISBN 186163 299 0, page 282
    • There are many kinds of "Leech " or "healer" as there are healing techniques, some are more powerful than others and some are very specific to certain illnesses and complaints; some use potions and unguents, others crystals and stones, others galdr and some work their healing from within the hidden realms themselves.
  • (medicine) A glass tube adapted for drawing blood from a scarified part by means of a vacuum.
    • Synonyms
    * (physician) barber, doctor, physician * (healer in Heathenry) healer
    Derived terms
    * leechcraft

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) lek, leche, lyche, from (etyl) ).

    Noun

    (es)
  • (nautical) The vertical edge of a square sail.
  • * 1984 , Sven Donaldson, A Sailor's Guide to Sails , page 130
    • To help combat these problems, almost all sailmakers trim the leeches' of their headsails to a hollow or concave profile and enclose a LEECHLINE within the ' leech tabling.
  • (nautical) The aft edge of a triangular sail.
  • * 2004 , Gary Jobson, Gary Jobson's Championship Sailing , page 176
    • Trim the leech of the jib parallel to the main by watching the slot between the mainsail and the jib.
    Derived terms
    * leech line
    See also
    * (parts of a sail) * foot * luff ----

    hirudinal

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Of or pertaining to leeches

    • Related terms

    * hirudin