spindle-shanks
Definition
Noun (plural used as singular or plural): - A person with long, thin legs: "spindle-shanks" is an informal, somewhat humorous or derogatory term for someone whose legs are notably slender and long, resembling the thin, tapering shape of a spindle (a rod used in spinning thread). The term emphasizes an exaggeratedly thin or spindly appearance of the legs.
Usage Examples
- (Referring to a person with very thin legs.)
- (A nickname based on leg shape.)
Advanced Usage
- "Spindle-shanks" as a collective noun: The word can refer to a single person or a group of people with thin legs, though it is most commonly used for an individual.
- The team was full of spindle-shanks, but they were surprisingly fast runners. (The team members had slender legs.)
Variants and Related Words
Spindle-legs (noun): An alternative form with the same meaning.
- He was teased for being a spindle-legs in his youth. (He had thin legs.)
Spindly (adjective): Long or tall and thin in an awkward way.
- The spindly plant struggled to stay upright. (The plant had thin, weak stems.)
Synonyms
- Lanky: Tall and thin, often with long limbs.
- Gangling: Awkwardly tall and thin.
- Slender: Gracefully thin (without negative connotation).
Related Idioms
- "Like a spindle-shanked crane": A simile comparing a person to a tall, thin bird (like a crane) with long legs.
- He stood there like a spindle-shanked crane, towering over everyone else. (He was very tall and thin.)
Notes on Usage
- The term is informal and often used in a teasing or affectionate manner, but it can be considered mildly insulting if taken seriously.
- It is derived from "spindle" (a thin, tapering rod) and "shanks" (an old word for legs, especially the lower part).