duck-legged
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having short legs: "duck-legged" describes a person or animal with legs that are noticeably short, resembling the short legs of a duck.
- Walking with a waddling gait: It can also refer to a manner of walking that is clumsy or swaying, similar to a duck's movement.
Usage Examples
- (He had short legs and walked with a waddling motion.)
- (The puppy had short legs, making it slower.)
Advanced Usage
- "duck-legged posture": a stance or way of standing with legs unusually short or bent, often leading to a low center of gravity.
- His duck-legged posture made him an excellent wrestler. (His short legs and low stance were advantageous in wrestling.)
Variants and Related Words
Duck (n): a waterbird with short legs and a waddling gait.
- The duck swam gracefully but waddled on land. (A duck's short legs cause it to walk in a swaying manner.)
Legged (adj): having legs of a specified kind (often used in compounds like "long-legged" or "duck-legged").
- The table is four-legged. (It has four legs.)
Synonyms
- Short-legged: having legs that are shorter than average.
- Waddling: walking with a side-to-side motion, often due to short legs.
Related Idioms
- As duck-legged as a penguin: an informal comparison meaning extremely short-legged and waddling.
- He moved as duck-legged as a penguin, his steps small and clumsy. (His gait was very similar to that of a bird with short legs.)
Notes on Usage
- "Duck-legged" is a descriptive, somewhat informal adjective. It is often used to describe people, animals, or even objects (like furniture) that have an unusually short-legged appearance. The term carries a neutral or slightly humorous tone, not necessarily derogatory.