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On one's last legs

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)



   {At last}, at the end of a certain period; after delay. ``The
      duke of Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived.''
      --Motley.

   {At the last}. [Prob. fr. AS. on l[=a]ste behind, following
      behind, fr. l[=a]st race, track, footstep. See {Last} mold
      of the foot.] At the end; in the conclusion. [Obs.] ``Gad,
      a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the
      last.'' --Gen. xlix. 19.

   {Last heir}, the person to whom lands escheat for want of an
      heir. [Eng.] --Abbott.

   {On one's last legs}, at, or near, the end of one's
      resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin,
      especially in a financial sense. [Colloq.]

   {To breathe one's last}, to die.

   {To the last}, to the end; till the conclusion.

            And blunder on in business to the last. --Pope.

   Syn: {At Last}, {At Length}.

   Usage: These phrases both denote that some delayed end or
          result has been reached. At length implies that a long
          period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of
          more than three months, we at Length arrived safe. At
          last commonly implies that something has occurred (as
          interruptions, disappointments, etc.) which leads us
          to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as,
          in spite of every obstacle, we have at last arrived.

Leg \Leg\ (l[e^]g), n. [Icel. leggr; akin to Dan. l[ae]g calf of
   the leg, Sw. l["a]gg.]
   1. A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the
      body, and in running, climbing, and swimming; esp., that
      part of the limb between the knee and foot.

   2. That which resembles a leg in form or use; especially, any
      long and slender support on which any object rests; as,
      the leg of a table; the leg of a pair of compasses or
      dividers.

   3. The part of any article of clothing which covers the leg;
      as, the leg of a stocking or of a pair of trousers.

   4. A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a leg; probably from
      drawing the leg backward in bowing. [Obs.]

            He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks for
            a favor he never received.            --Fuller.

   5. A disreputable sporting character; a blackleg. [Slang,
      Eng.]

   6. (Naut.) The course and distance made by a vessel on one
      tack or between tacks.

   7. (Steam Boiler) An extension of the boiler downward, in the
      form of a narrow space between vertical plates, sometimes
      nearly surrounding the furnace and ash pit, and serving to
      support the boiler; -- called also {water leg}.

   8. (Grain Elevator) The case containing the lower part of the
      belt which carries the buckets.

   9. (Cricket) A fielder whose position is on the outside, a
      little in rear of the batter.

   {A good leg} (Naut.), a course sailed on a tack which is near
      the desired course.

   {Leg bail}, escape from custody by flight. [Slang]

   {Legs of an hyperbola} (or other curve) (Geom.), the branches
      of the curve which extend outward indefinitely.

   {Legs of a triangle}, the sides of a triangle; -- a name
      seldom used unless one of the sides is first distinguished
      by some appropriate term; as, the hypothenuse and two legs
      of a right-angled triangle.

   {On one's legs}, standing to speak.

   {On one's last legs}. See under {Last}.

   {To have legs} (Naut.), to have speed.
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