thigh

[ thahy ]

noun

1. the part of the lower limb in humans between the hip and the knee.
2. the corresponding part of the hind limb of other animals; the femoral region.
3. (in birds)
   1. the true femoral region that is hidden by the skin or feathers of the body.
   2. the segment below, containing the fibula and tibia.
4. Entomology. the femur.

thigh

/ θaɪ /

noun

1. the part of the leg between the hip and the knee in man
2. the corresponding part in other vertebrates and insects

Word History and Origins

Origin of thigh¹

before 900; Middle English thi, thigh ( e ), the ( h ), Old English thīoh, thēoh; cognate with Dutch dij, Old High German dioh, Old Norse thjō

Word History and Origins

Origin of thigh¹

Old English thēh; related to Old Frisian thiāch, Old High German dioh thigh, Old Norse thjō buttock, Old Slavonic tyku fat

Example Sentences

Femurs are the large, sturdy bones in our thighs and in a horse’s hind legs.

From Science News For Students

One was wounded in the thigh, an injury described by police as not life-threatening.

From Washington Post

Vent pockets slashed across the thighs can dump enough warmth that you can hike in them in merely freezing weather.

From Outside Online

If I do end up going to the store, I’ll buy extra chicken thighs to freeze, and a few containers of tofu, which lasts for quite a long time when it’s packed in water.

From Eater

Keep your hips level, square, and in a straight line with your thighs and torso.

From Outside Online

There was one guy who had a tattoo of me on his inner thigh.

From The Daily Beast

One guy took a horn in the thigh, suffering a baseball-sized contusion.

From The Daily Beast

He has had operations on both knees, and they had to put him under anesthesia to clean a long gash in his left thigh.

From The Daily Beast

Sternberg showed a sweatshirt wrapped around a hips-style skirt, oversized faux furs, and thigh-length cardigans.

From The Daily Beast

There were also bruises on the lower left arm and the upper right thigh.

From The Daily Beast

Captain Hobbs, of the 3rd Artillery, was shot through the thigh at night, and only the next morning saw the nature of the wound.

From Project Gutenberg

Heap together into it the pieces thereof, every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder, choice pieces and full of bones.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, stooping suddenly, the Parisian ran his blade under the other brave's guard and through the fellow's thigh.

From Project Gutenberg

As they flew, each rider swung lightly forward, lance level with thigh, shield over the crouching chest.

From Project Gutenberg

The width of the seat should be about one-fifth of the length of the body, or three-fourths the length of the thigh.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• femur
• groin