crook-kneed
Definition
Adjective: Describing a person or animal whose knees are bent or turned outward, resulting in a bow-legged appearance.
Usage Examples
- (His knees were bent outward, giving him a bow-legged stance.)
- (The young dog had knees that were not straight, causing a slight deformity in its legs.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be crook-kneed": to have a physical condition where the knees curve outward, often due to genetics or prolonged strain.
- After years of horseback riding, the jockey became noticeably crook-kneed. (His knees developed a permanent outward bend from the activity.)
Variants and Related Words
- Crook (n): a bent or curved part of something, such as a shepherd's staff or a bend in a river.
- He used a crook to guide the sheep. (A hooked staff for herding.)
- Kneed (adj): having a particular type or condition of the knees (often used in compounds like "knock-kneed" or "crook-kneed").
- The knock-kneed child had difficulty walking straight. (Having knees that turn inward.)
Synonyms
- Bow-legged: having legs that curve outward at the knees.
- Bandylegged: having legs that are bent outward, often used for horses or humans.
Related Idioms
- "Crook the knee": an archaic phrase meaning to bend the knee, often as a sign of submission or respect.
- The knight would not crook the knee to the tyrant. (He refused to bow in submission.)
Notes
- This word is rare and formal, often used in medical or descriptive contexts. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation.