housemaid's knee

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. inflammation of the bursa over the front of the kneecap.

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housemaid's knee British  

noun

1. Technical name: prepatellar bursitis.  inflammation and swelling of the bursa in front of the kneecap, caused esp by constant kneeling on a hard surface

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Etymology

Origin of housemaid's knee

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

housemaid's knee

They were not to be confused with the socially less acceptable housemaid's knee, which is a bursitis.

From Time Magazine Archive

Retorted Mansfield: "If I pray any more, I'm going to have housemaid's knee."

From Time Magazine Archive

"It bears about the same relation to typhoid," said the Doctor, eyeing the other with solemnity, "as housemaid's knee does to sunstroke."

From The Clarion by Stevens, William Dodge

I am angry to have got housemaid's knee, because I got it on doorsteps that led to nowhere.

From A Christmas Garland by Beerbohm, Max, Sir

Of the countless housemaids in whom the prepatellar bursa is subjected to friction and pressure, only a small proportion become the subjects of housemaid's knee.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis