leg

Where does the word "leg" come from? It comes from Old Norse leggr, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Leg’s story begins in Old Norse: leggr meant “a leg.” Replaced the native English word shank in everyday use. It reached English by 1200s as leg. Settled as the standard English word for the limb. Today, leg means one of the limbs used for standing, walking, and running.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval leggr "a leg", replaced the native English word shank in everyday use.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s leg "a limb used for standing and walking", settled as the standard English word for the limb.