noun
Uncommon
leigh
LEE
Leigh (noun) means an old, mostly literary or dialectal word for a meadow or a clearing in a forest. Example: “The poem describes cattle grazing on a quiet leigh at dusk.”
noun
1
An old, mostly literary or dialectal word for a meadow or a clearing in a forest.
"The poem describes cattle grazing on a quiet leigh at dusk."
"In the old ballad, the lovers meet on a green leigh beside the river."
"A few sheep wandered across the sunlit leigh at the edge of the wood."
How to use leigh
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA meadow or forest clearing — a word you mostly meet today as part of English place names and the given name Leigh, rather than in everyday speech.
When to use it
Archaic/literary as a common noun; survives mainly in place names and personal names.
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Word forms
- Plural
- leighs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The poem describes cattle grazing on a quiet _____ at dusk.
Etymology
From Old English lēah ("clearing in a forest"), the same root that gives many English place names ending in "-ley" or "-leigh."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for leigh
See all rhymes for leigh →Frequently asked questions
What does “leigh” mean?
The word “leigh” means an old, mostly literary or dialectal word for a meadow or a clearing in a forest. In plain terms, a meadow or forest clearing — a word you mostly meet today as part of English place names and the given name Leigh, rather than in everyday speech.
How do you pronounce “leigh”?
“Leigh” is pronounced LEE (/ˈliː/ in IPA).
How do you use “leigh” in a sentence?
Here is “leigh” used in a sentence: “The poem describes cattle grazing on a quiet leigh at dusk.”
What part of speech is “leigh”?
“Leigh” is a noun.
Where does the word “leigh” come from?
The word “leigh” comes from Old English. From Old English lēah ("clearing in a forest"), the same root that gives many English place names ending in "-ley" or "-leigh.".
Is “leigh” a common word?
“Leigh” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What does leigh mean as an old English word?
Leigh is an old, mostly literary or dialectal word for a meadow or a clearing in a forest. It is not common in everyday modern English and mainly survives in place names and literary or historical usage.
Is leigh still used in everyday modern English?
No, leigh is largely archaic and dialectal, meaning it is rarely used in ordinary modern speech or writing. It tends to appear in historical, literary, or place-name contexts rather than everyday conversation.
Why does leigh appear so often in English place names?
Because leigh originally meant a meadow or forest clearing, it was commonly attached to place names describing that kind of landscape feature, which is why many English towns and villages still carry it as part of their name today.
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