Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LEAGUE, n. [leeg; of Celtic origin. W. llec, a flat stone, whence Low L. leuca, Sp. legua, It. lega, Fr. licue, Ir. leac. It appears from the Welsh, that this word is from the root of lay.]

1. Originally, a stone erected on the public roads, at certain distances, in the manner of the modern mile-stones. Hence,
2. The distance between two stones. With the English and Americans, a league is the length of three miles; but this measure is used chiefly at sea. The league on the continent of Europe, is very different among different nations. The Dutch and German league contains four geographical miles. – Encyc.