leggy

If something is described as "leggy," it usually means it has noticeably long legs, or, for a plant, long thin stems. Think of a giraffe, a fashion model, or tomato seedlings that did not get enough sunlight. The word often suggests a slim shape, and sometimes it also hints that something looks a little awkward, weak, or stretched out.

The term is not always a compliment. It can praise someone's long, attractive legs, but with plants it usually means they need more light or better growing conditions. The main idea is proportion: the legs or stems look longer and thinner than usual.

"Leggy" is a descriptive word used to characterize things that are noticeably long-legged or have elongated stems. Originally, it was often applied to animals—think of a heron wading through shallow water, its long legs seemingly stretching on forever. These creatures were admired for their elegant, almost awkward grace.

However, "leggy" has expanded beyond just animal descriptions. In gardening, a "leggy" plant is one that has stretched toward the light because it hasn't received enough of it, resulting in a long, spindly stem with few leaves. This isn't necessarily a good thing; leggy plants often need staking or "pinching back" to encourage bushier growth. You might say, "The basil seedlings were getting leggy on the windowsill."

It can also be used to describe people. While often used as a compliment in fashion contexts, "leggy" refers to someone with long and slender legs, sometimes implying a specific height and build ("She was a tall, leggy woman with an athletic stride"). It's important to use this description thoughtfully, as it can be subjective or focus heavily on physical attributes depending on the context.

The key takeaway is that "leggy" isn't just about length; it's about proportion. Something is "leggy" when its legs or stems are significantly longer than expected, creating a particular visual impression—whether elegant, awkward, or in need of some TLC.