Definition

Noun: A condition where a person's toes point inward toward each other when walking or standing. This is often a physical characteristic observed from early childhood and can be associated with other postural traits.

Usage

This term is used to describe a specific physical posture of the feet. It is most commonly applied to people, especially children, but can also describe a similar stance in some animals. * The pediatrician said the child's pigeon toes were mild and would likely correct themselves as she grew. * His pigeon toes caused the inner sides of his shoes to wear out more quickly.

Advanced Usage

• The condition is medically referred to as in-toeing or metatarsus adductus.
• While often used neutrally to describe an observable trait, in some contexts, it can carry a mild, informal connotation of clumsiness or an awkward gait.
  • He ran with a funny, shuffling stride due to his pigeon toes.

Variants and Related Words

• Pigeon-toed (adjective): Describing someone who has this condition.
  • The pigeon-toed boy walked carefully across the icy pavement.

Synonyms

• In-toeing (medical/formal term)
• Toeing-in

Antonyms

• Out-toeing (toes pointing outward)
• Duck feet (informal term for out-toeing)

Noun

1. disability in which the toes are turned inward; often associated with knock-knee