Definition
Small worm-like creatures that suck blood from other animals, or people who take advantage of others' generosity.
Etymology
From Old English 'læce,' related to healing practices where leeches were used in medicine. The figurative sense (a selfish person) developed naturally because leeches literally drain you of blood.
Kelly Says
For centuries, doctors actually used leeches to treat diseases because they believed bleeding helped—now modern medicine is rediscovering leeches for reconstructive surgery! The word shifted from medical tool to metaphor for parasites, but the creatures never really stopped being useful.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
እንቁላላ
en-kwi-la-la
ARالعربية
دبابير الدم
da-ba-beer al-dam
BNবাংলা
রক্তপিপাসী
rokto-pi-pa-see
CACatalà
sanguijugues
san-gwee-gwee
CSČeština
pijavice
pee-ja-vee-tse
DADansk
blødsugende
blød-su-gen-de
DEDeutsch
Blutsauger
bloots-ow-ger
ELΕλληνικά
πύθοι
pee-thee
ESEspañol
sanguijuelas
san-gwee-yew-elas
FISuomi
verisukulaiset
ve-ri-su-ku-lai-set
FRFrançais
vers luisants
ver loo-zahn
HEעברית
חזזיות
kha-za-yit
HUMagyar
vércukor
ver-koo-ror
IDBahasa Indonesia
lintah
lin-tah
ITItaliano
sangueassue
san-gwee-as-sue
KO한국어
혈흡충
hyeol-hup-chung
MSBahasa Melayu
lintah
lin-tah
MYမြန်မာ
ရွှေပြာ
shwe-pya
NLNederlands
leeuwen
lee-wen
PLPolski
pijawki
pee-av-kee
PTPortuguês
sanguessugas
san-gwey-soo-gas
RORomână
viermi de sânge
vee-rmee de san-ghe
RUРусский
пиявки
pee-av-kee
TAதமிழ்
இரத்த உணையிகள்
irath u-na-ya-igal
TEతెలుగు
రక్తపిడి
rakta-pi-di
THไทย
หนอนเลือด
non leoat
TRTürkçe
kancalıklar
kan-cha-li-klar
URاردو
خون sucker
khoon sucker
VITiếng Việt
giun máu
gwee-n-mâo