charley horse

[chahr-lee]

noun

1. a painful, involuntary cramp of an arm or leg muscle resulting from excessive muscular strain or a blow.

charley horse

/ ˈtʃɑːlɪ /

noun

1. informal,  muscle stiffness or cramp following strenuous athletic exercise

Word History and Origins

Origin of charley horse¹

First recorded in 1885–90; originally baseball slang

Word History and Origins

Origin of charley horse¹

C19: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Cramp or stiffness in a muscle, most often in the thigh, as in After working in the garden I frequently get a bad charley horse. First used in the 1880s among baseball players, the term was soon extended to more general use. Its true origin is disputed. Among the more likely theories proposed is that it alludes to the name of either a horse or an afflicted ball player who limped like one of the elderly draft horses formerly employed to drag the infield.

Related Words

• ache 
• constipation 
• contraction 
• convulsion 
• pain 
• stiffness 
• twinge 

When To Use

What does charley horse mean?

A charley horse is an involuntary muscle spasm or cramp, usually occurring in the larger muscles of the limbs. It can last anywhere from a few seconds to more than a day—and can really hurt.Charley horse is popularly spelled Charlie horse or charlie horse.