housemaid's knee

2 definitions found

housemaid's knee - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Housemaid \House"maid`\, n.
     A female servant employed to do housework, esp. to take care
     of the rooms.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Housemaid's knee (Med.), a swelling over the knee, due to
        an enlargement of the bursa in the front of the kneepan;
        -- so called because frequently occurring in servant girls
        who work upon their knees.
        [1913 Webster]

housemaid's knee - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  housemaid's knee
      n 1: swelling of the bursa in the knee (due to trauma or
           excessive kneeling)