bow-legged
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having legs that curve outward at the knee: "bow-legged" describes a physical condition where a person's legs bend outward so that the knees are wide apart and the ankles are close together when standing.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The toddler was slightly bow-legged, a common trait in young children. (His legs curved outward at the knees.)
- He was born bow-legged, but the condition corrected itself as he grew. (His legs were naturally curved outward.)
- The old cowboy walked with a bow-legged gait from years of riding. (His legs had a permanent outward curve due to horseback riding.)
Advanced Usage
"to be bow-legged": to have this physical characteristic.
- Many infants appear bow-legged because of their position in the womb. (The legs curve outward naturally in early development.)
"bow-leggedness" (noun): the state or condition of being bow-legged.
- The doctor diagnosed the child's bow-leggedness as a temporary condition. (The outward curvature of the legs was assessed.)
Variants and Related Words
Bowleg (noun): a leg that curves outward at the knee.
- He has a noticeable bowleg on his left side. (His left leg curves outward.)
Bow-legged (adjective): the exact word being explained; no variant spelling.
Synonyms
Bandylegged: having legs that curve outward; a less common synonym.
- The bandylegged man walked with a sway. (His legs curved outward like a bow.)
Knock-kneed: (antonym) having legs that curve inward at the knees, the opposite condition.
- She is knock-kneed, while her brother is bow-legged. (Her knees touch; his do not.)
Related Idioms
Bow-legged as a cowboy: a simile used to describe someone with a wide, outward-curved stance, often from riding horses.
- After years on the ranch, he was as bow-legged as a cowboy. (His legs had taken on a permanent outward curve from riding.)
Bow-legged walk: a distinctive way of walking caused by this condition.
- His bow-legged walk was a result of rickets as a child. (The outward curve affected his gait.)