Obs. [OE. lǽcefinger, a transl. of L. digitus medicus, Gr. δάκτυλος ἰατρικός. Cf. ON. lǽknisfingr; also the Eng. synonyms † medical finger, † physic finger.] The finger next to the little finger.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 394. Sing on ðine læcefinger in pater noster.
a. 1100. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 307/2. Medicus, læcefinger.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 313. Þe fourþe fynger þat is y-cleped þe leche by cause of þe more hiȝtynge and fairenesse, for in þat fynger is a veyne þat streecheþ to þe herte.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 158. Bitwene þe litil fyngir & þe leche fyngir.
1506. Kalender of Sheph., A vj (Sommer), III. 15. The lytell seconde fynger … the medyll fyngers … the leche fyngere.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 607. The leach-finger, or ring-finger.
