Charley horse is a non-specific term, typically used to refer to a muscle cramp, stiffness, or contusion. Generally it is used for the thigh, calf, or foot, or more rarely, the arm. The term may be used interchangeably with dead leg or thigh contusion, referring to an injury caused by a physical blow to the leg or thigh.

The term came into use in the setting of baseball in the United States in the 1880s, though its exact origin is uncertain.

Etymology

The first known written use of the term was in 1886 in The Boston Globe. The origination has been attributed to two baseball players, Jack Glasscock and Joe Quest. However, its exact origins are unknown.

Other references

  • Shulman D (1949). "Whence "Charley Horse"?". American Speech. 24 (2): 100–104. doi:. JSTOR .
  • Tonbridge SV (1950). ""Charley Horse" Again". American Speech. 25 (1): 70.
  • Woolf HB (1973). "Mencken as Etymologist: Charley Horse and Lobster Trick". American Speech. 48 (3/4): 229–238. doi:. JSTOR .

External links

  • The dictionary definition of charley horse at Wiktionary
  • The dictionary definition of dead leg at Wiktionary