bow legs

7.0

Legs that curve outward at the knees so the feet and ankles touch while the knees are apart

noun
/boʊ lɛgz/

: piernas arqueadas

Children with mild bow legs often grow out of the condition as they age.

Examples

The doctor diagnosed him with bow legs after examining his posture.
She noticed her toddler had developed bow legs and scheduled a check-up.
He has bow legs that make him walk awkwardly.
Are bow legs common in children?
Children with mild bow legs often grow out of the condition as they age.
The doctor diagnosed the patient with bow legs during the examination.
She noticed that her toddler had bow legs and decided to consult a specialist.

Synonyms

bowlegs

vsbow legs

6.6

Legs that curve outward at the knees so the knees stay apart when the feet are together

specifies that feet and ankles touch while knees remain apart

bow leg

vsbow legs

7.1

Legs that curve outward below the knee so the knees stay apart when the feet are together

does not limit the curve to at or below the knee

bandy legs

vsbow legs

Archaic

7.5

Legs that curve outward at the knees and look bowed

is the clinical term that specifies the stance with ankles touching

Antonyms

straight-legged

1 4.2

Having legs that are straight, not bent or curved

Surface Forms

bow legs singular

bow legs plural

Morphology

bow + leg

The compound 'bow legs' is directly compositional: 'bow' (a bend/arc) + 'legs' (limbs) yields legs that are bent outward. This is a straightforward descriptive formation following common compounding patterns and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the two constituent words.

Etymology

Bow legs may come from the parts bow and legs: when the knees are apart and the feet come together, the legs curve like a bow used to shoot arrows. That's why 'bow legs' means legs that curve outward at the knees.