Obs. exc. arch. Forms: α. 4–5 leche, 5 lecche, leeche, leyche, 7– leach. β. 5 lese, lessh, 6 les(c)he. [f. LEACH sb.1] trans. To cut (meat, etc.) in slices; to slice.
α. a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 188. Seyne bowes of wylde bores with þe braune lechyde, Bernakes and botures in baterde dysches.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum (1862), 37. Whenne hit is sothun, thou schalt hit lethe.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 35. Take gratyd Brede, & make it so chargeaunt þat it wol be y-lechyd. Ibid. (c. 1450), 71. Leche hit [brawn] faire, but not to thyn.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, F vij b. Brawne leechyd.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 78. Terms for Carving … Leach that Brawn.
1864. H. Ainsworth, Tower Lond., 412. In the old terms of his art, he leached the brawn.
β. 14[?]. Noble Bk. Cookry (Napier, 1882), 27. Then leshe it in dyshes.
c. 1440. Douce MS. 55 lf. 29. Mold it all to gedrys with thyn honde till it be so stiffe that it will be lesshed.
1513. Bk. Keruynge, in Babees Bk., 265. Termes of a Keruer. Lesche yt brawne.
Hence † Leached ppl. a., sliced, fried in slices. † Leaching vbl. sb.1, in quot. concr., a slice; also attrib., as leaching-knife.
1416–7. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 613. 2 ladell de auricalco et 1 lechyngknyfe.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 15. Kytte hem [cakys] y lyke lechyngys.
1446. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1835), I. 101. iij lesyng knyues.
1461–83. Househ. Ord. (1790), 38. At supper leychid beefe & mutton roste.
1488. Will of Eliz. Brown (Somerset Ho.). Dressing knyfys, lecchyng knyfys, choppyng knyfys.
