League

(leeg.) (From Gael. leac, a flat stone.] Originally, a stone placed at certain intervals on a highway, to mark distances, like the modern milestone. In the modern sense, a measure of length, used by English speaking peoples with almost exclusive reference to the sea; thus, the sea-league proper is equal to 3 nautical or geographical miles, or the twentieth of a degree; that is, abt. 3.45 Eng. statute m.-[Fr. ligue, from L. lig a re, to bind.] (Pol.) A treaty of alliance bet. different states, sects, or parties, entered into for the promotion and execution of some common enterprise or ulterior design. It maybe offensive or defensive, or both. It is offensive when the contracting parties agree to unite in attacking a common enemy; defensive, when the parties agree to act in concert in defending each other against a common foe. [s. 533]