knee-high

knee-high
knee-high (adj.) 1743, from KNEE (Cf. knee) (n.) + HIGH (Cf. high) (adj.). Phrase knee-high to a grasshopper first recorded 1851 (earliest form was knee-high to a toad, 1814).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • knee-high — adjective high enough to reach up to your knees: The wheat was still only knee high. knee high socks knee high to a grasshopper OLD FASHIONED very small, because you were very young: We ve known John since he was knee high to a grasshopper …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • knee-high — ► ADJECTIVE & ADVERB ▪ so high as to reach the knees. ● knee high to a grasshopper Cf. ↑knee high to a grasshopper …   English terms dictionary

  • Knee-high — a. Rising or reaching upward to the knees; as, the water is knee high. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • knee-high — adj 1.) tall enough to reach your knees ▪ knee high grass 2.) knee high to a grasshopper old fashioned used when talking about the past to say that someone was a young child then …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • knee-high — knee′ high′ adj. 1) as high as the knees 2) clo Also, knee′ hi . a sock or stocking that reaches to just below the knees • Etymology: 1735–45 …   From formal English to slang

  • knee-high — [nē′hī′] adj. so high or tall as to reach to the knees …   English World dictionary

  • knee-high — 1 adjective 1 tall enough to reach your knees: knee high grass 2 knee high to a grasshopper old fashioned used when talking about the past to say that someone was a very small child then 2 noun (C) a sock that ends just below your knee …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • knee-high — ADJ Something that is knee high is as tall or high as an adult s knees. ...a field of knee high sunflowers …   English dictionary

  • knee-high — UK / US adjective high enough to reach your knees knee high socks • knee high to a grasshopper …   English dictionary

  • knee-high — adjective Date: 1743 rising or reaching upward to the knees < knee high stockings > • knee high noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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