knee-sprung

American  

[nee-spruhng] / ˈniˌsprʌŋ /

adjective

Veterinary Pathology.

1. (of a horse, mule, etc.) having a forward bowing of the knee caused by shortening of the flexor tendons.

---

Etymology

Origin of knee-sprung

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

The smaller of the two—but not by much—was a sloppy blond boy, rosy-cheeked and gum-chewing, with a relentlessly cheery demeanor and his fists thrust deep in the pockets of his knee-sprung trousers.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

I let him have my old paint pony, Freckles—him being knee-sprung and not up to cow-work.

From Bransford of Rainbow Range Originally Published under the title of Bransford in Arcadia, or, The Little Eohippus by Rhodes, Eugene Manlove

As the horses entered the stretch Geers spoke to his knee-sprung bay and he responded as only Robert J. could.

From Jimmie Moore of Bucktown by Trotter, Melvin Earnest

An hour later he emerges, well fed, revives his knee-sprung horse, lights a fresh cigarette, cracks his whip like a package of torpedoes, and goes clattering off in search of a customer.

From The Real Latin Quarter by Smith, F. Berkeley (Frank Berkeley)

Thomas Carlyle's sentences are knee-sprung in front and his phrases are spavined behind, and, therefore, Carlyle has "a style" but not "style."

From The Battle of Principles A Study of the Heroism and Eloquence of the Anti-Slavery Conflict by Hillis, Newell Dwight