What does doglegged mean?
Doglegged is an adjective describing something that bends sharply in the middle, in the manner of a dog's angular hind leg. It applies most naturally to physical layouts: a doglegged staircase doubles back on itself, a doglegged road makes an abrupt right-angle turn, and a doglegged golf hole curves sharply between tee and green rather than running straight. The word carries no strong emotional connotation; it is descriptive and slightly informal-technical, appearing frequently in architecture, hiking, motoring, and golf writing. Its strength lies in vividness — instead of saying a passage merely 'turns', calling it doglegged immediately conveys a single abrupt elbow-like kink rather than a gentle sweep. Related noun forms include 'dogleg', which is considerably more common, particularly among golfers. Writers who need a precise, evocative term for sharp, angular bending will find doglegged both accurate and instantly picturable.
adjectiveBent sharply in the middle like a dog's hind leg; characterized by one or more abrupt angles or zigzag turns.
- Bent sharply in the middle like a dog's hind leg, forming an abrupt angle.
- Having a course or layout marked by such sharp bends (of roads, staircases, corridors, golf holes).
"The doglegged corridor forced visitors to turn twice before reaching the gallery."
"The old doglegged staircase doubled back on itself twice before reaching the attic."
"A doglegged dirt trail wound up the hillside, hiding each successive bend from view."
Golfers curse it and architects exploit it — any route with a sudden sharp bend is 'doglegged', named for the angular shape of a dog's rear limb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of doglegged
The word derives from 'dogleg', an English compound of 'dog' and 'leg', coined from the resemblance of a sharp bend to the angled joint of a canine hind leg. It emerged in English in the 19th century, with early uses in describing crooked paths and structures before becoming firmly established in golfing vocabulary. The root 'dog' traces back to Old English 'docga', a word of uncertain ultimate origin.
Related word forms
How doglegged is actually used
Most often used to describe physical structures — staircases, roads, fairways, corridors — rather than abstract matters. The base noun 'dogleg' is more frequent than the adjective, especially in golf, where a 'dogleg' hole bends sharply between tee and green.
Easily confused with doglegged
Dogged means stubbornly persistent, while doglegged means physically bent at an angle like a dog's hind leg.