the compound "straight-leg" is a modern descriptive term from the fashion industry, formed by combining two old english and old norse roots. "straight" originates from the old english concept of being stretched or extended in a line, evolving from the proto-germanic strakkjaz. "leg" entered english from old norse, replacing the old english term sceanca. the compound logically describes a garment design where the leg portion maintains a consistent, untapered width from top to bottom, directly applying the literal meanings of its components to specify a style.

Structure: straight (sense) + leg (sense) - straight: from middle english streght, streyt, from old english streht (past participle of streccan 'to stretch'), meaning 'not bent or curved'. functional role: adjective root describing a linear quality. - leg: from middle english leg, legge, from old norse leggr, meaning 'a limb used for support and locomotion'. functional role: noun root specifying the part of the body or garment.