echel

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch echel, ēgele, from Old Dutch *egela, from Proto-West Germanic *egalu (“leech”). Related with egel (“hedgehog”). Cognate with German Egel (“leech”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛ.xəl/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: echel

Noun

echel f (plural echels, diminutive echeltje n)

1. (dated) leech, in particular one species used in bloodletting, the European medical leech, Hirudo officinalis

Synonyms

• (leech): bloedzuiger, laak