Leech (Verb)
Meaning
Draw blood; "In the old days, doctors routinely bled patients as part of the treatment".
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- Doctors would often leech patients who were suffering from high blood pressure in the 18th century.
- The medieval physician tried to leech the ailing king to balance his bodily humors.
- To cure fever, ancient physicians would leech their patients by applying leeches to their skin.
- Bloodletting involved a barber surgeon attempting to leech the patient using a lancet or applying leeches to the skin.
- The old doctor wanted to leech the patient's body to restore the supposed balance of his bodily fluids.