knock-knee

American  

[nok-nee] / ˈnɒkˌni /

noun

1. inward curvature of the legs, causing the knees to knock together in walking.

2. knock-knees, the knees of a person whose legs have such curvature.

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knock-knee British  

noun

1. Technical name: genu valgum.  a condition in which the legs are bent inwards causing the knees to touch when standing

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Other Word Forms

• knock-kneed adjective

Etymology

Origin of knock-knee

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Dr. Truslow operated on her right shin bone, just below the knee, to correct the knock-knee, knee flexion and outward flexion of that leg.

From Time Magazine Archive

That dog’s gonna be right jealous you dumped her so easy for something as plain and homely as that skinny, knock-knee Foster girl.

From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis

There can be no doubt that adolescent rickets plays an important part in the production of the deformities which occur at or near puberty, especially knock-knee and bow-knee.

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

Rickety Deformities of the Bones of the Leg—Bow-leg.—These deformities are common in children; are nearly always bilateral and symmetrical, and may be associated with knock-knee or bow-knee.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

An obliquity of the bone may result when one half of the epiphysial cartilage is destroyed and the other half continues to form bone, giving rise to such deformities as knock-knee and club-hand.

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