housemaid's knee

noun

, Pathology.

1. inflammation of the bursa over the front of the kneecap.

housemaid's knee

noun

1. inflammation and swelling of the bursa in front of the kneecap, caused esp by constant kneeling on a hard surface Technical nameprepatellar bursitis

Word History and Origins

Origin of housemaid's knee¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Housemaid’s knee, tennis elbow, writer’s cramp, potter’s wrist and other afflictions are much older than iPad neck, but they all have similar causes.

From The Guardian

He spent two years taking photographs of each individual can, and had to see a doctor after developing tennis elbow and housemaid's knee as a result.

From BBC

Tango Foot “Housemaid's knee, miner's elbow and similar ailments have now a formidable rival in ‘tango foot.’

From Scientific American

Constantly repeated actions are not unique to computing, and many people have suffered from housemaid's knee, tennis elbow, writer's cramp and other physical complaints.

From The Guardian

That morning’s biology lesson had been about how contraception can cause diseases such as St. Vitus Dance and Housemaid’s Knee.

From Slate