leash

 
Pronunciation: /liːʃ/

noun

  • a dog’s lead.
  • Falconry a thong or string attached to the jesses of a hawk, used for tying it to a perch or a creance.
  • a restraint: her bristling temper was kept on a leash the state needs to let business off the leash

verb

[with object]
  • put a leash on (a dog): he called Azor to heel so that he could leash him
  • restrain: his violence was barely leashed

Phrases

strain at the leash

be eager to begin or do something: by this time we were straining at the leash to get away

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French lesse, laisse, from laissier in the specific sense 'let run on a slack lead' (see lease)