Limb

(lĭm), n. [O. Eng. lyme, lymme, A-S. lim, leom, Icel. limr, lim, Sw. & Dan. lem.]

1. Edge or border; limit; extremity.
2. An extremity of the human body; a member; a projecting part, as the arm or leg.

Of courage haughty, and of limb Heroic built. Shak.

3. The branch of a tree larger than a twig.
4. A thing or person regarded as a part or member of something else. “Limbs of the law.” Landor.

That little limb of the devil has cheated the gallows. W. Scott.

5. (Bot.) The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corol, or of a petal, or sepal; blade. Martyn.
6. (Astron.) (a.) The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon. (b.) The edge of a graduated circle in an instrument.

Syn.—Member.—LIMB, MEMBER. A member of the body is any part capable of performing a distinct office, as the eye, ear, &c.; a limb is one of the extremities, and hence the term is restricted to the legs and arms. So, in reference to public bodies, we speak of their members, though an attorney is sometimes sportively called a limb of the law. One on his youth and pliant limbs relies, One on his sinews and his giant size. Dryden. Faint sweats all down their mighty members run, Vast bulks which little souls but ill supply. Dryden.