thigh

plural thighs

1. The upper leg of a human, between the hip and the knee.First known use 8th c.

   ‘Why not pay up now, kiddo?’ he suggested magnanimously, patting me on the thigh.

   1991, Kathy Lette, The Llama Parlour

   3 more examples

   I coniure thee by Rosalines bright eyes, By her High forehead, and her Scarlet lip, By her Fine foote, Straight leg, and Quiuering thigh, And the Demeanes, that there Adiacent lie, That in thy likenesse thou appeare to vs.

   c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   About ten days ago, in cocking a pistol in the guard-room at Marcau, he accidentally shot himself through the Thigh.

   8 November 1800, Jane Austen, a letter

   The 23-year-old was substituted in the 75th minute of France's goalless friendly draw with Croatia on Tuesday after suffering an injury to his thigh.

   31 March 2011, The Guardian

2. That part of the leg of vertebrates (or sometimes other animals) which corresponds to the human thigh in position or function; the tibia of a horse, the tarsus of a bird; the third leg-section of an insect.First known use 14th c.

   Add the chicken thighs, close the bag, and squish the marinade to coat the chicken.

   2009, Fred Thompson, Grillin' with Gas

   1 more example

   The newly discovered dinosaur Brontomerus mcintoshi may have used its huge muscular thighs to kick predators and rivals.

   23 February 2011, Ian Sample, The Guardian