Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having long, thin, and often seemingly weak legs: Describes a person, animal, or sometimes an object whose legs are noticeably long, slender, and reminiscent of a spindle (a thin rod used in spinning).

Usage

• This adjective is typically used to describe physical appearance, often with a connotation of extreme thinness or frailty in the limbs.
• It is most commonly applied to people and animals.
• The tone can be neutral, descriptive, or slightly humorous/derogatory, depending on context.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The spindle-legged foal struggled to stand on its long, thin legs.
  • He was a tall, spindle-legged man who seemed to tower awkwardly over everyone.
  • The old, spindle-legged chair wobbled precariously.

Advanced Usage

• "Spindle-legged" as a vivid descriptor: Often used in literary or descriptive writing to create a strong visual image of slenderness and height.
  • The heron, a spindle-legged silhouette against the sunset, stood motionless in the shallow water.

Variants and Related Words

• Spindle-shanked (adj): A direct synonym with identical meaning ("shank" refers to the part of the leg between the knee and ankle).
  • The word "spindle-shanked" is less common but means exactly the same as "spindle-legged".
• Spindly (adj): Resembling a spindle; long, thin, and frail. This is a more general term that can describe legs, arms, branches, etc.
  • The plant had spindly stems that could barely support the flowers.

Synonyms

• Lanky: Tall and thin in an ungraceful way.
• Gangly: Tall, thin, and awkward in movement.
• Leggy: Having attractively long legs (often used for women or animals; usually more positive than "spindle-legged").

Antonyms

• Sturdy-legged: Having strong, thick legs.
• Stocky: Broad and sturdily built.

Adjective

1. having long slender legs