לָעַס, (cmp. לָעַט a. לוּשׁ) to chew, masticate. Sabb. XIX, 2 לוֹעֵס בשיניו וכ׳ one chews (cumin for a plaster) with one’s teeth and applies it. Tosef. ib. XII (XIII), 8 אין לוֹעֲסִין וכ׳ you must not chew gum-mastich on the Sabbath. Tosef. Pes. VI, 11 כהשמש עומד למזוג … ולועס עד וכ׳ (not ללעוס) when the attendant gets up from the table to mix the wine, he must close his mouth and chew (the meat of the Passover lamb) until &c. Pes. II, 7 לא יִלְעוֹס אדם וכ׳ one must not chew wheat (on Pesaḥ) and put it on one’s wound; a. e.—Part. pass. לָעוּס. Y. Ter. VIII, 45ᵇ bot., v. בָּלַע.