Leak | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Lēak, n.

noun

(leek), n. [A-S. hlēce, leaky; D. lek, L. Ger. leck; leaky, a leak; Icel. lekr, leaky; Dan. lük, leaky, lükke, a leak; Sw. läck, leaky, a leak. See infra.]

A crack, crevice, fissure, or hole in a vessel, that admits water, or permits a fluid to escape.
The oozing or passing of water, or other fluid or liquor, through a crack, fissure, or aperture in a vessel, either into it, as into a ship, or out of it, as out of a cask.

To spring a leak, to open or crack so as to let in water; to begin to let in water.

Lēak, a.

adjective

a. Leaky. [Obs. and rare.] Spenser.

Lēak, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. LEAKED (leekt); p. pr. & vb. n. LEAKING.] [D. lekken, L. Ger. lecken, H. & Prov. Ger. lechen, Icel. leka, Dan lಗೆkke, Sw. läka, läcka, to drop; A-S. leccan, to wet, moisten, leccing, leacinc, a leaking.] To let water or other liquor into or out of a vessel, through a hole, crevice, or other defect.

To leak out, to find publicity in a clandestine or irregular way; to escape from confinement or secrecy.