from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Limb \Limb\ (l[i^]m), n. [OE. lim, AS. lim; akin to Icel. limr
limb, lim branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan. lem limb; cf. also AS.
li[eth], OHG. lid, gilid, G. glied, Goth. li[thorn]us. Cf.
{Lith}, {Limber}.]
1. A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and
separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.
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2. An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of
an animal.
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A second Hector for his grim aspect,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
--Shak.
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3. A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or
attachment to, something else. --Shak.
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That little limb of the devil has cheated the
gallows. --Sir W.
Scott.
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4. An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock.
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{Limb of the law}, a lawyer or an officer of the law.
[Colloq.] --Landor.
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