leg it
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To run; "to give a LEG," to assist, as when one mounts a horse; "making a LEG," a countryman’s bow,—projecting the LEG from behind as a balance to the head bent forward.—Shakspeare.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “leg it” mean?
To run; "to give a LEG," to assist, as when one mounts a horse; "making a LEG," a countryman’s bow,—projecting the LEG from behind as a balance to the head bent forward.—Shakspeare.
Is “leg it” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.