Having knees that bend inward or are misaligned, giving the legs a curved or bowed appearance.
From Middle English 'crook' (bend or curve) combined with 'knee' (the joint between thigh and shin). The compound describes a physical deformity or natural condition where the knees don't align properly.
This word is part of a fascinating Old English tradition of using 'crook-' compounds to describe physical oddities—like how people once casually described neighbors as 'crook-nosed' or 'crook-shouldered' in a time before polite euphemisms.
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