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Glite Dictionary
knock-knee

knock-knee

8.2
Knees that turn inward and touch when the legs are straight
  • noun
  • /nɑk-ni/
translation icon : rodillas en X
  • Physical therapy can help improve the condition of knock-knees and reduce associated discomfort.

Examples

  • Children with knock-knees may have difficulty running comfortably during physical activities.

  • Tendencies for knock knees require attention to the side-to-side cuff angle that is adjusted with cant rivets or custom padding on one side of the lower leg bone.

    Blog text (4)

  • The condition is referred to as knock knees.

    Blog text (3)

  • Sureleh's mockery made her stare at her knock knees in despair.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I think I weighed about 60 pounds soaking wet, and I had that big old gap in my teeth and knock-knees.

    Country Strong (2010)

  • The doctor explained that knock-knees can sometimes lead to joint pain in adults.

Synonyms

genu valgum
vsknock-knee
  • Specialized
8.9

A condition where the knees lean inward and touch when the legs are straight

is the common everyday name rather than the medical term

Surface Forms

knock-knee singular
knock-knees plural

Morphology

knock-knee = knock + knee (transparent) = knock + knee

A direct, literal compound: knees that 'knock' together; the meaning follows straightforwardly from the components.

Etymology

Knock-knee comes from the simple words knock and knee, where knock means 'hit' and pictures knees that hit each other when you stand or walk. So, it names the condition where the knees turn in and touch when the legs are straight.