single-leg
UK[ˈsɪŋɡl leɡ]US[ˈsɪŋɡl leɡ]
adj
Involving, using, or performed on only one leg.
Morpheme Breakdown
single
leg
single
one
leg
limb
Etymology
The compound adjective "single-leg" is a transparent modern English formation, combining two native lexical elements. "Single" traces back to Latin singulus, meaning "one" or "individual," which itself may derive from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "separated." "Leg" entered English from Old Norse leggr, referring to a limb or bone, replacing the Old English term sceanca. The compound logically and literally describes an action, posture, or object involving only one of these limbs, a meaning directly constructed from the sum of its parts without significant semantic shift.
Analysis
Structure: single (one) + leg (limb)
- single: From Latin singulus (one, individual, separate). Functional role: Adjective-forming root, indicating singularity or oneness.
- leg: From Old Norse leggr (limb, bone of the leg). Functional role: Noun root, denoting the specific body part.
Examples
She demonstrated a challenging single-leg squat.
The yoga pose requires strong balance in a single-leg stance.
He suffered a single-leg injury during the race.