Standard Lemma guide

bowleg

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈbəʊlɛɡ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A leg that curves outward at the knee.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

have legs that curve outward at the knees

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bandy, bandy-legged, bowed, bowlegged

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a leg bowed outward at the knee (or below the knee)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bow leg, bandyleg, bandy leg, genu varum, tibia vara

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: leg, disability, disablement, handicap, impairment

History

Etymology

From bow + leg.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: genoll var — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Chinese Mandarin: 羅圈腿 /罗圈腿 (luóquāntuǐ) — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Chinese Mandarin: 膝內翻 /膝内翻 (xīnèifān) — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Wu Chinese: 羅圈腳 /罗圈脚 (6lu-chioe-ciaq) — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Danish: hjulben — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Dutch: o-benen — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Finnish: länkisääri — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • French: genu varum — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • French: jambe arquée — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • German: Säbelbein — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • German: O-Bein — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Ingrian: koverasääri — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Italian: gambestorte — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Polish: kolana szpotawe — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Russian: саблеви́дная нога́ (sablevídnaja nogá) — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Russian: отклонённое кнару́жи коле́но (otklonjónnoje knarúži koléno) — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Spanish: pierna arqueada — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Spanish: genu varo — leg that curves outward from the knee
  • Swedish: hjulbent — leg that curves outward from the knee