Limb (?), n. [OE. lim, AS. lim; akin to Icel. limr limb, lim branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan. lem limb; cf. also AS. li, OHG. lid, gilid, G. glied, Goth. lipus. Cf. Lith, Limber.]
1.
A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.
2.
An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal.
A second Hector for his grim aspect,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Shak.
3.
A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else.
Shak.
That little limb of the devil has cheated the gallows.
Sir W. Scott.
4.
An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock.
Limb of the law, a lawyer or an officer of the law. [Colloq.]
Landor.
© Webster 1913.
Limb, v. t.
1.
To supply with limbs.
[R.]
Milton.
2.
To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.
© Webster 1913.
Limb, n. [L. limbus border. Cf. Limbo, Limbus.]
A border or edge, in certain special uses.
(a)
Bot. The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade.
(b)
Astron. The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon.
(c)
The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles.
© Webster 1913.