milk leg

noun

: a painful swelling of the leg caused by inflammation and clotting in the veins and affecting some postpartum women

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of milk leg was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near milk leg

Cite this Entry

“Milk leg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milk%20leg. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

milk leg

noun
: postpartum thrombophlebitis of a femoral vein

called also phlegmasia alba dolens

More from Merriam-Webster on milk leg

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!